Brookhaven to vote on trapping feral cats -- Environmental Issu...

In a move Brookhaven officials hope will assuage fears that feral cats pose a threat to endangered piping plover at Cedar Beach, the town is expected to approve tonight a $10,000 contract with a professional ...

[paul]

The TNR program is not a viable soloution for the direct and overwhelming impact feral cats have on wildlife and our local ecosystem. It will be at best a "feel good" soloution, with no effect on the problem. Question: where will the neutered cats be released? Brookhaven town does not have the forest area to absorb even a fraction of their numbers. Are we willing to subject the wildlife in their newfound "home" to the damage they will do? I stand by my opinion expressed in Monday's forum. Feral cats should be declared legal prey for shotgun hunters. There should be a bounty paid for the extinction of each, to cover the cost of amunition and equipment. While this soloution may sound harsh to some, it is far more humane than the miserable existance and eventual death from disease and starvation of all feral cats.

[Paying attention]

the town would be better served by partnering with animal advocates and prosecuting "cat dumpers" who leave unwanted pets at the beach.

There are so many ferrel cats around, have you ever swwn someone dump one? My guess is no you haven't....so if you don't see them how do you get them? They certainly aren't leaving them with collars and tags on them

[Paying attention]

seen*

[Tweety]

Get real. TKB, not TNR. Do it for the birdies.

[Joe Cop]

paul wrote:

The TNR program is not a viable soloution for the direct and overwhelming impact feral cats have on wildlife and our local ecosystem. It will be at best a "feel good" soloution, with no effect on the problem. Question: where will the neutered cats be released? Brookhaven town does not have the forest area to absorb even a fraction of their numbers. Are we willing to subject the wildlife in their newfound "home" to the damage they will do? I stand by my opinion expressed in Monday's forum. Feral cats should be declared legal prey for shotgun hunters. There should be a bounty paid for the extinction of each, to cover the cost of amunition and equipment. While this soloution may sound harsh to some, it is far more humane than the miserable existance and eventual death from disease and starvation of all feral cats.

I think a .22LR would be cheaper and far more sporting. IMHO

[Bill]

This would be a great place for a Chinese restaurant joke.

[What is that all about]

paul wrote:

The TNR program is not a viable soloution for the direct and overwhelming impact feral cats have on wildlife and our local ecosystem. It will be at best a "feel good" soloution, with no effect on the problem. Question: where will the neutered cats be released? Brookhaven town does not have the forest area to absorb even a fraction of their numbers. Are we willing to subject the wildlife in their newfound "home" to the damage they will do? I stand by my opinion expressed in Monday's forum. Feral cats should be declared legal prey for shotgun hunters. There should be a bounty paid for the extinction of each, to cover the cost of amunition and equipment. While this soloution may sound harsh to some, it is far more humane than the miserable existance and eventual death from disease and starvation of all feral cats.

Let's just shoot YOU and put you out of your misery for coming up with such a disgusting idea.

[Mike Savage]

paul wrote:

The TNR program is not a viable soloution for the direct and overwhelming impact feral cats have on wildlife and our local ecosystem. It will be at best a "feel good" soloution, with no effect on the problem. Question: where will the neutered cats be released? Brookhaven town does not have the forest area to absorb even a fraction of their numbers. Are we willing to subject the wildlife in their newfound "home" to the damage they will do? I stand by my opinion expressed in Monday's forum. Feral cats should be declared legal prey for shotgun hunters. There should be a bounty paid for the extinction of each, to cover the cost of amunition and equipment. While this soloution may sound harsh to some, it is far more humane than the miserable existance and eventual death from disease and starvation of all feral cats.

Long Island is probably too populous for shotguns to be used safely in ANY area. Also there is a drawback to the plan in that it encourages the poorly informed and unintelligent minority of people who will see this as a bonanza opportunity to use their guns for sport.

[Mike Savage]

Bill wrote:

This would be a great place for a Chinese restaurant joke.

OK, I don't have all the facts, but......The Jewish people came into being about 5,700 years ago. The first Chinese dynasty around 4,600. That means the Jews went without Chinese food for more than 1,100 years. Those years were called the "Dark Ages".

[paul]

Mike Savage wrote:

<quoted text>
Long Island is probably too populous for shotguns to be used safely in ANY area. Also there is a drawback to the plan in that it encourages the poorly informed and unintelligent minority of people who will see this as a bonanza opportunity to use their guns for sport.

Please read my post carefully; Note, I said shotgun "hunters" that means they posess a valid license, and are proficient in the use of firearms and know the law pertaining to the use of shotguns on L.I.( 500 ft. from the nearest house ) look it up.

[paul]

What is that all about wrote:

<quoted text>
Let's just shoot YOU and put you out of your misery for coming up with such a disgusting idea.

Your eloquence leaves me speechless.!

[paul]

Joe Cop wrote:

<quoted text>I think a .22LR would be cheaper and far more sporting. IMHO

One big problem, Joe. Although I agree the 22 would be very effective, I hope you know that it is unlawful to fire a 22 anywhere on L.I. except an approved rifle range. Look it up please, and let me know if I am wrong.

[Linda Stuurman]

As a resident of the Town of Brookhaven and President of LAST HOPE ANIMAL RESCUE, which advocates for feral cats and Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) Programs in our local Townships, I, and LAST HOPE, are opposed to the proposed referendum.

It is well known that feral cat colonies are the result of man's inhumanity towards our feline population. Unsterilized felines discarded by humans behind the Island's shopping centers, restaurants, parks and beaches multiply rapidly living on food sources provided by dumpsters, caring humans, and discarded or uneaten food from beach or park users. Humane organizations such as LAST HOPE practice TNR with responsible feral cat caretakers. This method of feral cat population control is embraced by the Humane Society of the United States and ASPCA.

We have recently begun TNR Programs with the Towns of Oyster Bay and Babylon this spring. The Town of North Hempstead has had such a program in place since 2003.

It seems as though the Town of Brookhaven is taking several steps backward as the other Townships are moving forward proactively regarding feral cats. The Town of Brookhaven does not have all the piping plovers on Long Island. Why is the Town wasting tax dollars on such a ridiculous proposal--hiring professional trappers at $650.00 a day??

When the money for the trappers is depleted, and let's face it, at $650 a day, the money allocated for this job will go quickly, what will happen if all the cats are not trapped? The endless dumping of cats at this location will continue as it has for many years. Additionally, the breeding will restart. Is the Town then going to hire more trappers at $750 a day?

This referendum needs serious rethinking and needs to be defeated today as does the whole proposal for the feral cats at Cedar Creek Park.

Please go back to the drawing board.

Sincerely,
Linda Stuurman
www.lasthopeanimalrescue.org

[CAT HATER]

Bill wrote:

This would be a great place for a Chinese restaurant joke.

THAT WAS FUNNY.........

[Joe Cop]

Paul wrote:

<quoted text>One big problem, Joe. Although I agree the 22 would be very effective, I hope you know that it is unlawful to fire a 22 anywhere on L.I. except an approved rifle range. Look it up please, and let me know if I am wrong.

You are absolutely correct sir. Was just stating a hypothetical is all.:-)

[BRQK]

It suold be nice if they declare "you legal pray" as you put it, and give the shotgun hunters the privilege to shot your A.. as a complement to your comments. I will love to see your A.. bleeding and not the cats. Animals have the same rights of existence that we humans do, however, according to your comment, I don't think you belong in the human group.

paul wrote:

The TNR program is not a viable soloution for the direct and overwhelming impact feral cats have on wildlife and our local ecosystem. It will be at best a "feel good" soloution, with no effect on the problem. Question: where will the neutered cats be released? Brookhaven town does not have the forest area to absorb even a fraction of their numbers. Are we willing to subject the wildlife in their newfound "home" to the damage they will do? I stand by my opinion expressed in Monday's forum. Feral cats should be declared legal prey for shotgun hunters. There should be a bounty paid for the extinction of each, to cover the cost of amunition and equipment. While this soloution may sound harsh to some, it is far more humane than the miserable existance and eventual death from disease and starvation of all feral cats.

[Joe Cop]

paul wrote:

<quoted text>One big problem, Joe. Although I agree the 22 would be very effective, I hope you know that it is unlawful to fire a 22 anywhere on L.I. except an approved rifle range. Look it up please, and let me know if I am wrong.

You have brought me back to reality and the solution that I have come up with is a powerful air rifle like my Beeman in 5mm, Gamos are also good candidates. It has the power to put down a cat with one well aimed brain shot. I know, I have had to do it after my dog got a hold of a feral cat and didn't kill it out right. The air rifles are not unlawful to shoot in the Town of Oyster Bay within which I reside. I could eliminate the problem for a whole lot less than $650/day as another poster stated. A tin of 100 pellets is 7 or 8 dollars.

[cowboy]

What is that all about wrote:

<quoted text>
Let's just shoot YOU and put you out of your misery for coming up with such a disgusting idea.

Actually this digusting "idea" is almost straight out of the herd management playbook. If not controlled you will eventually have to deal with emaciated cats staggering all over the place, they'll continue to reproduce regardless of the food supply. Don't know what else to tell you except if you don't like it start hauling them off on your own dime, otherwise we're talking about a public nuisance and health issue.

[Mike Savage]

paul wrote:

<quoted text>Please read my post carefully; Note, I said shotgun "hunters" that means they posess a valid license, and are proficient in the use of firearms and know the law pertaining to the use of shotguns on L.I.( 500 ft. from the nearest house ) look it up.

I still think it's a poor idea.

[Mike Savage]

Joe Cop wrote:

<quoted text>You have brought me back to reality and the solution that I have come up with is a powerful air rifle like my Beeman in 5mm, Gamos are also good candidates. It has the power to put down a cat with one well aimed brain shot. I know, I have had to do it after my dog got a hold of a feral cat and didn't kill it out right. The air rifles are not unlawful to shoot in the Town of Oyster Bay within which I reside. I could eliminate the problem for a whole lot less than $650/day as another poster stated. A tin of 100 pellets is 7 or 8 dollars.

You, sir, are one friggin idiot.