Town Criticized for Handling of Feral Cat Colony
The Hempstead Town Board was criticized at Tuesday's meeting by several animal advocates, including two banned animal shelter volunteers, for its plans to relocate the two feral cat colonies in Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore.
Town officials want to move the cats, remove their makeshift shelters and relocate their feeding stations to the end of the park starting May 1.
According to Newsday [paid link], the town has cited "health and safety of the cats and park users" as the reasons for relocating the cat community.
One of the cats' caretakers, Joyce Christie, 71, of Bellmore, told Newsday [paid link] earlier this week that "moving the colonies put the lives of the cats in danger due to possible starvation."
Town Waiving Pet Adoption Fees for Mother's Day
On Saturday, May 12, the town is inviting everyone to salute mothers by adopting a pet at the town's animal shelter. The normal adoption fee will be waived for this event only.
All adopted animals will also receive free rabies vaccinations, spaying/neutering and microchipping.
Prospective pet adopters are also encouraged to bring treats and/or toys for the shelter animals; all those who do so will be eligible for a door prize. There will be raffles and baked goods for sale, with proceeds benefiting the "Tails of Hope Fund," an organization helping to fund extraordinary medical surgeries for dogs and cats.
"Mamma Mia, Pets Are Free-a" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Hempstead Town Animal Shelter is located at 3320 Beltagh Ave. in Wantagh. For more information, call (516) 785-5220 or visit the shelter's website.
These cats are VERMIN. They should be rounded up and put to sleep. I know it sounds harsh, but you are being overly emotional because they are kitty-cats. Well, they are no longer kitty-cats, Laurie. They are feral. They eradicate REAL wildlife that has nowhere else to live. Of course people created this problem to begin with by letting their pets go outside and not spaying/neutering them, and by being incredibly inhumane and setting them "free", but this has expanded into a serious issue. I have 3 cats, all rescues, and I intend to keep them for life. They are never permitted outside. I walk the walk, Laurie. Now lets do the right thing and get these VERMIN off of public property. You wouldn't be protecting these animals if they were dogs, and you know it. Read the links provided by the other poster, please. Educate yourself. HAve a great day.
Mission completed #schoolingtrolls
Well said.
There is no health risk. That was a false rumor, possibly deliberately placed.
If you were to visit the site and speak to the people involved you would see that everything that you fear is just not so.
There are no tax dollars involved. There is no health hazard involved. There is no fear of starvation if the colony is left alone. All the cats in the colny have been "fixed." This is a very specific situation about which if you better understood the details you would most likely come to a different conclusion.
All the cats in questioned have already been spayed and neutered, and at no cost to any government. The two ladies who care for them have done it all.
You posted- "There is no health risk. That was a false rumor, possibly deliberately placed." http://levittown-ny.patch.com/articles/hempstead-town-criticized-by-animal-advocates#comment_3208418 But copies of the Health Department inspection, posted on Patch, states among other things, "current conditions observed on this inspection are in violation of the Nassau County Public Health Ordinance." http://bellmore.patch.com/articles/residents-to-protest-against-relocation-of-cat-colony-in-bellmore-park#photo-9741809 http://bellmore.patch.com/articles/residents-to-protest-against-relocation-of-cat-colony-in-bellmore-park#photo-9741810 http://bellmore.patch.com/articles/residents-to-protest-against-relocation-of-cat-colony-in-bellmore-park#photo-9741812
This article has been superseded by one dated May 1st and any further comments I make will be made there.
I am not sure whose side you support on the specific issue at hand. All the cats in the colony have been neutered or spayed, and all are confined to a small secured area far enough away from any normal human activity to make any interaction with humans very unlikely even if they could get out of the secure area. Free roaming cats, which these are NOT, can be a problem, but that is an issue beyond the scope of the series of comments, or at least it should be.
I was in the area and I saw no chipmunks, voles, or rabbits, but I did hear birds and I think that I did see other signs that there were birds in the area. However, I saw no chipmunks, voles or rabbits anywhere else in the entire part area. Have you been there? Did you see any more wildlife elsewhere in the partk area? How would moving the colony from the relatively confined area it now occupies to the much more open area proposed help wildlife?