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<DIV>Cats naturally like to be outdoors at least some of the time. Cat-owners know the risks. I think hundreds of strays are a different problem. </DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><BR>Nov 12, 2010 01:29:22 PM, wheadle@yahoo.com wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(102,153,204) 3px solid">RE the stray cat situation; as an animal lover, I'm of 2 minds about this. I do <BR>not want to see the cats starve but I can't see how continually supplying food, <BR>etc., will help the situation. I would think it would make it worse by <BR>encouraging MORE stray cats to stay in the area and the weaker cats who can't <BR>fight for their share of the food will starve anyhow. <BR><BR><BR>RE cats in general; perhaps I'LL get some flak over this, but I can't see why <BR>people let their cats run loose in a residential area; the animals stand a very <BR>good chance of getting hit by a car (or train!), they can get injured in other <BR>ways, they can get diseases or parasites, etc. I know many, many people who <BR>keep their cats indoors and the cats are happy, well-adjusted animals. Yes, it <BR>involves a lot of owner interaction and time with the cats but if you're not <BR>willing to provide time for ANY animal you bring into your home, you shouldn't <BR>have a pet at all. <BR><BR><BR>As for other arguments about traffic, people using public transportation (purple <BR>line or whatever) instead of cars; we HAD some public transportation in the form <BR>of regular Metrobus service up until the Metro/MARC accident the other year. <BR>The buses came through town center every day of the week and ran early and late <BR>enough to accomodate a lot of people who would otherwise be driving. After the <BR>accident, Metro rerouted the buses onto East-West Highway, which means if people <BR>in my part of town (like me!) want to catch a Metro bus, we have to walk up to <BR>the school or out on Route 1. Not so bad if I'm just walking, but coming home <BR>with grocery bags, etc., it can be difficult, esp. as I have arthritis. The <BR>County bus just runs weekdays. I've read a lot of posts and heard <BR>comments about how great it will be when the Purple Line comes through, how many <BR>people will ride instead of drive; however, when Metro discontinued it's bus <BR>service through our town center, the only person I heard raising a voice in <BR>protest was.... me. <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>TownTalk mailing list<BR>To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only<BR>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<BR><BR>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></html>