Does Bandera County have a feral cat problem?

Committee looks at stray animal problems & solutions Cats - " feral and domesticated - " were discussed at length recently.

[SHADOW]

There is a cat problem in Bandera. Dr. Conrad Nightingale and County Attorney Kerry Schneider want to kill them all.

[SHADOW]

The most recent report from Bandera animal control list approx. 3 cats killed by the animal control. Those of you who believe they only handled 3 cats in almost 2 months are kidding your self.
Bandera can't give the animals shots to kill them because they can't buy the drugs without a state license they don't have. The gas chamber was left on the property despite promises to move it.
You say gass and county officials become outraged denying any gassing. Gas can b purchased without a license, the chamber is still there and God only knows what is happening to all the animals.
Before CCPAL took over it was the same, no real number keeping by the sheriff and many say it was because of the number of animals shot or drowned by the Sheriff's animal control. I only pray we are not headed back to those dark days in Bandera County but I fear we are there.

[Animal Welfare Society]

Bandera County is doing a great job at managing their animal issues at this time. There is a County Liaison person that is finding placement for animals coming in to the shelter and at this time there have only been true euthanisias happen with a couple of dogs that had medical problems. TNR is still an issue that has to be dealt with but we're hoping to get this enacted very soon. There are committees that are reviewing shelter accommodations, legal issues, etc. and are working with numerous animal rescue groups in an attempt to do what is in the best interest of the pets in this county. That does not mean we can let any of these issues rest - a lot still needs to be done. But I'm very proud of what has been happening here at this time. The County and different rescue groups are stepping up and trying to work things out - now it's up to the citizens of this county to help continue on with doing what is in the best interest of precious pets. Unfortunately we have a lot of folks that still don't believe a dog or cats life is worth anything. I hope and believe the County is trying to overcome its attitude - now the people of this County also need to review their thoughts and deeds towards animals.

[SHADOW]

How did we get from feral cats to an "animal liaison"? That position doesn't exist in normal counties. No Animal Control has no problem interacting with the public. It is only when you get into these backward counties like Bandera that a special position has to be made at a minimum of $35,000.00 hit to taxpayers so Animal Control can just do their deputy job. These deputies are just that, some more fat for a floundering Sheriff's department. A position I might add that was apparently given to a part time County Attorney employee who just happens to be the daughter of a Bandera JP. This was I understand a last minute appointment by the outgoing County Attorney to get this woman a full time job with benifits and retirement. Wonder if she owed someone something or what.
Bandera County is working out of a condemned facility that has never had a state license as is required by law.
Where were all these animal rescue groups when CCPAL needed help??
The killing of unwanted abandoned companion animals is not what is needed. You need a rabies officer that doesn't dislike animals first. Then a commitment like CCPAL has shown over the years.
I notice Animal Welfare Society looks like it is in San Antonio. I know it is not, no it's in Bandera County with a facility and land purchased with grant money that has no sign and the gate is locked. That makes it hard for citizens in Bandera to get benifit from those grant dollars or adopt animals.
If you are proud of what Bandera just did to the animals, I feel sorry for you. How many animals they are killing is an un-known because in the past this Sheriff and his deputies have shown little regard for companion animals at all or real truthful numbers of animal calls or animals killed.
Animal Control is just not high on the Sheriff's list of things to do, I remember him saying that in one of the county's hearing on animal control when the Judge lied through his teeth and assurred CCPAL their contract would be extended for another year only to find out later, he was just "joking". Yes it was a joke alright.
Bandera can afford a 11 million dollar jail, now for the animals sake get an animal control facility that is at least legal.

[painter1]

feral cats are a big problem at lakehills
should be killed off cause they are killimg doves, quail, wild turkey pults, these populations are all most gone. Quail have be gone for 5 years now and the wild turkey is very close. To bad ppl can't take care of there pets the just drive off and leave whole litters behind.

[SHADOW]

The thing I like the most about these conversations is the chance to exchange information.
Quotes from Alley Cat Allies:
"The facts bear out that cats are not the primary culprit in dwindling bird populations," says ACA co-founder, Becky Robinson. "The World Watch Institute and other environmental research groups verify that the decline of bird and other wildlife populations is directly linked to the loss of natural habitat. Urban sprawl, tropical deforestation, the construction of shopping malls, roads and golf courses and increases in pesticide use and pollution are to blame. We need to put constraints on our own behavior, not the normal processes of nature."

ACA cites a significant number of scientific studies conducted on the diets of feral cats that indicate their impact on bird populations is negligible. These studies conclude that cats are rodent specialists, with birds comprising only a small portion of their diet and that cats can prey on bird populations on large land masses without destroying these populations. Cats are opportunistic feeders, and often live primarily off of scavenged animals, garbage, and handouts from humans.
Your comment is a common misconception about birds.
Read up on free roaming feral cats and it just might suprise you. Feral cats are a managable problem.
People who just drive off and leave any animal should be prosecuted to stop this practice.
By controling colonies of feral cats the population dwindles when trap, nuter and release is practiced.
painter 1, I don' expect you to start loving cats but I do expect you to be informed about what cats do in the wild.

[I care]

It continues to me amaze me that this Shadow remains in the dark as to what the sheriff is or is not doing towards animals. Will you continue to listen to the lies of Bobby H and Roger Sullivan? Why not go see for your self, look at the plans, talk to people WHO know and are involved in the planning of the new jail to see that indeed they are building a new facility. Ask Bobby Harris who supposedly is on the panel with Marlene Heavnor/Roger Sullivan.They know all about it but maybe they wont tell you because they are committed to giving you wrong information so THEY can benefit down the road for themselves. Roger Sullivan couldn't make it in the race for county judge so he is gonna make sure people hear him even if he has to lie about everything. He will blow Bobby full of lies and Ideas to the point that Bobby begins to believe the lies himself. But its really funny Bobby is all for dogs, but what about him hitting a dog and didn't stop to help because he was scared thought he hit someone. That's who we want for a commissioner let alone a Judge? No thanks. Leadership, that's what we need, good examples within the community. Not a group of people who promote dissension lies and hate!

[SHADOW]

Why not tell everyone what exactly I lied about?
Bad mouthing Sullivan and Harris will not change the facts. You know, facts but then you seem to prefer lies.
Ask the Sheriff about how many dogs and cats have been shot. If he lies and says none go back and read the newspaper articles about it.
The county is still trying to plan a building for animal control but nothing has been approved.
Just who is the "THEY" who can benifit down the road?? If and when the county gets a new facility the benifit will be to county abandoned and stray animals and that is it unless the sheriff is taking some kind of kick back.
You, "I pretend to care" need professional help and pretty soon. You are a cowardly little person who can only speak through your computer and then you lie. Indeed go check the facts because up until now you don't have them.

[Shame]

I think I probably agree with painter. I mean...so many people out cry kick and scream about ohh the poor animals do not kill them! Well..if PEOPLE took better care of them..fenced them in maybe..got them fixed..we would'nt have so many problems in the Bandera Lakehills Area. Not just cats either ALOT OF DOGS. We have a few goats then are pinned up on OUR property and I find it VERY frustrating that people just open the door let their dogs roam and come onto my property and growl at and try to harm my goats. These are not "livestock" to me but my pets....

[SHADOW]

It is a people problem plain and simple. You agree with painter about what?
Get on the web and educate yourself about these free roaming feral cats. If you don't care about humane treatment of these cats then just stop and think about how killing them only leaves an open space in the colony. Your cutting your nose off to spite your face.
Trap spay/nuter and release is the answer. If the cats can't reproduce the population goes down humanely.
Call the Seriff about the dogs. They probably won't help you but at least lodge the complaint.
Since the county cancelled the contract with CCPAL things have definitely gone downhill. No one cares. They won't pick up cats and seldom do they pick up dogs. That is how they cured the dog and cat populations at the bandera animal control facility---ignore them.

[dee love]

I don't believe for one minute that we are getting the truth from Bandera Co. or Jennifer Gartner on just how many dogs/ puppies are REALY BEING put down .(only God knows about the cats/kittens)
Area shelters can only take so many animals from Bandera - and Bandera needs to do the job of sheltering animals itself ! NOT killing them !
It is a sad SICK COVER UP and it's time Bandera and surrounding citizens really fought the embarrassing mess that is going on with the helpless animals !
SNR is still the best solution to the problem of feral cats !!

[SHADOW]

dee love wrote:

I don't believe for one minute that we are getting the truth from Bandera Co. or Jennifer Gartner on just how many dogs/ puppies are REALY BEING put down .(only God knows about the cats/kittens)
Area shelters can only take so many animals from Bandera - and Bandera needs to do the job of sheltering animals itself ! NOT killing them !
It is a sad SICK COVER UP and it's time Bandera and surrounding citizens really fought the embarrassing mess that is going on with the helpless animals !
SNR is still the best solution to the problem of feral cats !!

I just saw an e-mail from a woman claiming bandera is back to killing all the dogs.
You know they consider all cats not collared to be feral and they should be killed immediately. Dr. Nightingale the County's rabies vet just hates cats ask him he will be more than glad to tell you.
Now the Bandera County web site lists only 4 dogs and they normally had a dozen or more.
No long term dogs listed.
When they took animal control from CCPAL they fully intended to kill all animals and Sheriff Tucker proposed that in a written report to commissioners and since they still have no shelter number because they refuse to follow state guidelines they can't buy the shots to kill the animals. many in the county feel like they will gas the animals because they can do that without a shelter number.
One of the charges alleged against the Sheriff's department in recent weeks is "animal cruelity".
There is also talk of a deputy with a silencer for his rifle for killing dogs on the side of the road.
They have a long history of shooting dogs and that is well documented although the old County Attorney and County Judge deny it the records speak for themselves.
Prosecution is the only answer as jennifer can't face reality and continues to say they are running a no kill facility which is a lie. I just called the sheriff's dispatch tonight and she abruptly told me Bandera runs a no kill facility so I was not to worry about them killing any animals. LIE
They started out with 3-5 cats last november they left in open cages outside in freezing weather for almost a week with no litter boxes, denyed CCPAL's request to take the cats and then killed them all.
That fact was documented with pictures and still no one cares. Jennifer reported no cats killed.
They lie to make themselves look like they are doing a fine job because they can't bring themselves to admit they screwed up and can't handle all the animals.
Right now I heard they were killing all the nursing puppies, no time to take care of them. At one point that was written in the animal control orders, I saw it and it is probably still in there.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANIMALS PERIOD

[SHADOW]

June and July were banner months for Bandera no kill facility. They managed to butcher around 70 companion animals that all of the sudden they can't manage.
Animal Welfare sold the county a bill of goods and now they are on the outs and the county can only kill, just like they used to.
Don't believe a word the Sheriff's office or anyone else says they are a killing field once more. All it took was a bunch of really smart people throwing CCPAL out and oh look the county bit off more than they can chew and the animals pay the price.
And so goes the saga od the butchers of Bandera, thanks Judge.