All Wisconsin Animal lovers and anyone else interested Please Read **UPDATE** 4/13/

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All Wisconsin Animal lovers and anyone else interested Please Read **UPDATE** 4/13/

4/13****NEW UPDATE

http://www.dontshootthecat.com/
from WinCustomize Forums
A vote will come up in your state on April 11 to try and pass a law making it legal to shoot feral, and ultimately domestic cat's. Here is a link to the proposed bill Link



And here is a link that show's county by county where you can go for the meeting on the matter.



Link




*UPDATE*
Here is a copy of the alert I received. It explains this a little better.
Dear Best Friends Network Member,



Many of you may have heard of the Wisconsin man who wants to create a hunting season on feral cats in his state. It has received nationwide attention. In case you haven’t heard of this, here is just one of the recent articles: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=31029&ntpid=3



Because so many of you have asked, we wanted to let you know what is happening and what is being done to help protect Wisconsin cats:

On Monday, April 11th at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Congress Question #62 will be up for vote. Question #62 would define feral cats as an unprotected species, as if that's not bad enough, a feral cat is considered any cat without a collar and not under the control of the "owner". This means that it will be legal to hunt cats with no season or bag limit. To see the entire question:



http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/nrboard/congress/sh/cca/index.htm



There is a statewide campaign to defeat Question #62, led by a local coalition of animal groups and concerned individuals called Wisconsin Cat Action Team. They are organizing people to attend the hearings and voice their opinion.



What exactly can you do to help?

Right now the Cat Action Team feels that letters, emails, and phone calls from out of state will not help. If the vote passes, laws would have to be changed and the proposal would go before the legislature. At that time letters and petitions will be appropriate and we will keep you updated.



The key right now is getting the word out to Wisconsin residents to attend the hearings on April 11th and vote! If you have friends or family in Wisconsin, please urge them to attend the hearings and to spread the word to their friends. The more people we can let know, the better! For locations in each county for the meeting on the 11th go to http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/nrboard/congress/sh/lo/index.htm. The Cat Action Team is also looking for people to be County Coordinators in each county to help get the word out.



A website has been set up with more details and will continually be updated: Don’t Shoot the Cat (www.dontshootthecat.com). Also, a Don’t Shoot the Cat fact sheet is attached with more information. Please feel free to contact [email protected] for more information.



Thank you for being a part of the Network and for all that you do!



Sincerely,



Deborah Delgado-Hand

No More Homeless Pets

Best Friends Animal Society

5001 Angel Canyon

Kanab, Utah 84741

(435) 644-3965 ext. 4401

[email protected]

www.bestfriends.org


4/13 UPDATE****
Dear Best Friends Network Member,



You may have heard about the proposal in Wisconsin that would allow it to be legal to shoot free roaming cats.



In Wisconsin, any individual is able to propose questions to those who attend the annual Conservation Congress hearings. Wisconsin resident Mark Smith proposed that free roaming cats be removed from the protected species list, which would make it legal to shoot them. This issue was discussed at the meetings in each county on Monday night. This is NOT yet a law that will be going into effect.



Even though there were more yes votes than no votes at the meetings on Monday, they was just a small percentage of Wisconsin residents and in by no means a representation of the views of the entire state. The results of the Spring Hearings are forwarded to the Natural Resources Board and Department of Natural Resources for further consideration following the statewide recommendations from the Conservation Congress at its annual meeting. The State Legislature would then need to pass legislation to implement this proposal. And then the Legislature would ultimately decide this issue.



When we, as well as many of you, contacted officials in Wisconsin about this situation, they responded with a resounding “no” when asked if such a law would be passed in their state.



Jim Holperin, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Tourism responded saying “No bill or any other proposal to allow shooting of cats, wild

(feral) or domestic has ever been advanced in Wisconsin, nor will one be. No legislator would be foolhardy enough to author such a measure. Cats are safe here. Regardless of the Conservation Congress outcome, however, that vote is only advisory. It does not have the force of law.”



The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary assures it won't be open season on stray cats in the state. Secretary Scott Hassett says that will be the case regardless of how residents voted on such a proposal. Hassett says there are too many unanswered questions and problems associated with killing roaming cats.



For background information on this situation please visit Alley Cat Allies at http://www.alleycat.org/wi.html



Make sure to visit www.dontshootthecat.com to keep up-to-date on this issue.



We are keeping a close eye on this situation and will keep you informed of the latest updates and how action can be taken if needed.



Sincerely,



Deborah Delgado-Hand

No More Homeless Pets

Best Friends Animal Society

5001 Angel Canyon

Kanab, Utah 84741

(435) 644-3965 ext. 4401

[email protected]

www.bestfriends.org
22,403 views 83 replies
Reply #76 from WinCustomize Forums Top
why not set up box (live) traps in the problem areas and then euthenize them if they are indeed feral (easy to tell with a cat)?

Excellent suggestion SD. And in answer to your question. Not all feral cats look any different than a healthy indoor cat. Feral is more of a behavior problem than a physical illness. Thanks for the wonderful input.
Reply #77 from WinCustomize Forums Top


This is real sad and utterly STUPID. I am a cat persom but I love all animals and you're right once something like this starts it could spiral out of control quick. You wonder how humans can feel this way towards animals but it all follows a typical HUMAN pattern of if we can't control it, KILL IT. I saw something the other day that may help you understand how some humans feel about animals. There was a dead dog (medium size) lying next to the curb. The dog was young, maybe around 2 years and at first I thought nothing about it as animals always get run over. Anyway I noticed that at the dogs butt it looked as if it's anus had popped out from the impact . I moved the dog from the street to the sidewalk and as I started walking down the street again I saw the dog's tail laying in the street from it. Then the funny looking dog's butt made sense, it wasn't that the dog's butt had popped out, the dog's tail had been ripped off the dog from the skin. When I looked at the dog again I could see that there was a patch of skin and a stump from it's tail and from the position of the parts it had to have been torn/ripped off. I'm not an detective but it didn't look as if it happened during the time the dog was hit. Someone or thing had to have done it. . The reason humans treat animals the way we do is purely because we feel that we(Humans) are the Master's of all living things. The bible tells us so. This is what we humans are at heart, killers just like animals (Laughing) PS. My spelling sucks so if you have nothing else to do but rag on someone's spelling then you need to get a life. One suggestion though is to add a spell checker
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Reply #78 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My spelling sucks so if you have nothing else to do but rag on someone's spelling then you need to get a life.


Everyone makes mistakes. I just want to point out that people visit this place from all over the world. The english language is the hardest to learn. Some people have to use a translator to read somethings. It is important to at least try to get your spelling correct in respect to others. Especially if you want them to hear your point. Sorry for the hijack.

Back to the topic, I love cats and the thought of hunting them down makes me sad. However, if they are a problem something needs to be done about it. Just because they are cute, it shouldn't make them any different than a rat or insect problem. It just sucks that people will be having fun killing them off. All humans should be ashamed of that.
Reply #79 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Master's of all living things. The bible tells us so.


And isn't that sad. The bible did not mean we are free to kill at will. Being a Master means that we are in charge of the well being of the animals. If it means that we are free to kill at will, soon we would have nothing to be Master of. We have been put in charge of taking care of them. Thankyou so much for your wonderful input, Bushman. And I didn't have a problem understanding what you wrote!
Reply #80 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I suppose its too late to sign the petition.


I wouldn't hurt to got the the "dontshoothtecat" web site. They may still be taking signatures. I do know that the law makers say they are not going to pass this Bill because of the response the petition against it received, among other good reasons. I have added some info in the opening of this thread since you responded. It gives in detail where this stands at this time. Thankyou so much for your interest.
Reply #81 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Not all feral cats look any different than a healthy indoor cat


I said it was easy to tell. Having trapped thousands of animals, including cats, I know what I'm talking about. A tame cat can become feral with no domestic home, but a true feral cat is the one that is born wild. It is very easy to tell.
Reply #82 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is very easy to tell.


Your question mark after your statement led me to believe you were asking.
I didn't say all of them look normal. I have seen some that do. On some the only way you can tell is by how they act when approached. I volunteer for a no kill animal shelter as well as support several Animal shelters across the country. I would say on the whole you are correct, but I would also say that we both have different experiences.
Reply #83 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would say on the whole you are correct


glad to have your approval