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Westlake, Ohio Community Cats in Danger!

April 30, 2009, 12:37PM MT
By Cheri Moon
Urgent: Contact the Westlake City Council Members Today

Urgent: Contact the Westlake City Council Members Today

By Stephanie Rommel, Best Friends Network Volunteer

The City of Westlake, Ohio, a suburb west of Cleveland, continues to gather free-roaming stray and feral cats. Many are euthanized.

Help Save Westlake’s Community Cats

Five years ago Westlake agreed to pay for spays, neuters and vaccinations of all impounded cats. But, this leaves feral cats without the means to be returned (trap/neuter/return) to their colonies. They get lost in the current system and are killed.

Please take a moment to contact Westlake’s City Council members and request they put the “return” in a TNR program, and humanely allow feral cats to live out their lives.

If you belong to an animal rights organization, dog or cat rescue or specific breed dog rescue, these free-roaming cats NEED YOU at the May 7 Council meeting!

Best Friends’ Focus on Feline Campaign supports the efforts of Karen Fike in implementing a working relationship with animal control on the behalf of the Westlake community cats. This is a great opportunity for TNR advocates to show their support, says Shelly Kotter, Focus on Felines Campaign Specialist for Best Friends Animal Society.

Karen Fike, area resident and advocate, states, “I just want the killing to stop. I would like Westlake to establish a full TNR program that manages these cats.”

You Can Make a Difference
Bring as many people as possible and cross post this to all of your members, friends and family. You do not need to be a resident of Westlake to attend a council meeting nor do you need to speak. A full attendance while an animal issue is at stake will put more pressure on the Mayor and City Council.

WHEN:
Thursday, May 7, 2009

TIME:
8:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Westlake City Hall
27700 Hilliard Boulevard (Cross Street-Dover Center)
Westlake, Ohio 44145

Make Your Case with Talking Points
Take from this list or share your own

• Cities such as Elyria and Cleveland are now practicing TNR. Cleveland will trap, neuter, spay over 1,300; Elyria will begin with 100 cats.

• TNR has proven to be the most effective method of humanely reducing the overpopulation of homeless cats over the long-term. No more unwanted kittens.

• TNR saves taxpayer dollars at the same time it reduces the community cat population. Otherwise, they are picked up by animal control and euthanized at taxpayer expense.

• The primary causes in the decline of bird and wildlife populations are the destruction of their habitats, pollution and pesticides—not cats.

• Best Friends supports TNR programs conducted by well-informed individuals, by private organizations and by public agencies. Best Friends believes the best solutions to community cat overpopulation include partnerships between private and public agencies.

• Numerous institutions and organizations including Best Friends Animal Society, the Humane Society of the United States the ASPCA and many others endorse TNR.

• A study by Stanford University’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) found virtually no risk to humans from feral cats and diseases associated with cats.

Now Contact the Westlake City Council
Please contact Council members and politely ask them to implement a TNR program in Westlake.

Michael F. Killeen

Edward G. Hack

James P. Connole

Dennis J. Sullivan

Michael F. O’Donnell

Kenneth R. Brady

Mark R. Getsay

Mayor Dennis M. Clough
Mayor’s Office
27700 Hilliard Boulevard
Westlake, OH 44145
Phone: 440-871-3300
Fax: 440-617-4209
dclough@cityofwestlake.org

Information and Resources from Best Friends Feral Cat Campaign

West Virginia Bill Proposes State Wide TNR

Oakville, IA Trap/Neuter/Return Project Triumphs

Wildlife Biologist Creates “Campus Cats” Program at University of Georgia

Best Friends Position Paper on Free-Roaming Cats & Feral Cat Library

Thank you for taking action for animals!

Photo by Photos8
Posted by Cheri Moon, Best Friends Staff
Comments
Posted May 15, 2009, 11:52PM by danfikemsncom
Please take a moment to immediately write to the Mayor and Councilmen of this city. They refuse to listen to anything positive about TNR. Things will only change for these animals if people continue to care for their well-being and get involved.
Posted May 02, 2009, 4:54PM by Kelly4cats
In writing emails to gov officials I personally would leave out most of the love and kindness stuff. I think outrage is good though as long as its not disrespectful. Public officials get nervous when anger starts stiring among the masses. They are voted into office so a lot rides on their reputations. If a lot of people aren't happy with them they may not be around for very long. I would give them examples of how other cities are dealing successfully with similar situations and talk about real solutions to these problems.
Posted May 04, 2009, 7:9PM by georgebailey47
"In writing emails to gov officials I personally would leave out most of the love and kindness stuff."

I respect that view, Kelly. It just seems to me that if politicians realize that cats, dogs, etc are FAMILY members to us, even feral ones, that the politicians will get the message loud and clear: "Hey, cats and dogs are FAMILY! You cant be killing our family members! This is murder".

So when they realize that we love cats, they will hopefully put two and two together and get four: "We cant be murdering cats....the public will not respond kindly come election day, and you know what? They're right. I love my cats, yet I'm supporting the killing of other cats? I was wrong".

I believe that even politicians have loving hearts and souls...they just lose their grasp of them because of politics, and they need a little tug on their heartstrings every so often, in order to bring love and compassion back into their hearts.

Love will solve any problem the world throws in our laps. My personal philosophy is that in order to get politicians to act lovingly and with reverence for their fellow living souls, we have to remind them of the love and reverence that us, their constituents have for cats, and why we feel this way: Cats are equal members of the family as Mom, Dad, little Susie and Grandpa are. You wouldnt kill Mom, Dad little Susie or Grandpa, so dont kill little Fluffy either.

But whatever works for you, do it.
As long as it helps save cats' precious lives, I dont care if you do somersaults in the mud....if it works, do it. lol

Take care Kelly. Keep standing up for cats like you always do.
Posted May 01, 2009, 3:10PM by Kelly4cats
How barbaric. What an awful place to live. I hope all the cat lovers there will get off their asses and do something about this. They are paying for this with their taxes and if they don't want their money used to kill innocent cats they'd better start speaking out against it.

This is not only about feral and stray cats. Owned cats who go outdoors are in just as much danger as homeless cats. Cat owners must start standing up for their rights.
Posted May 04, 2009, 5:52PM by dillon
I work as a volunteer in Atlantic City NJ for feral cats under the boardwalk I have seen 1st hand that TNR works. The popualtion is down. the cats are healthy vaccinated and spayed and happy. This does work. I wish for every one to read and get educated about this instead of there only solution is to always kill living creatures.!!!!!
Posted May 02, 2009, 4:20PM by Georgebailey47
I am so sickened by these humans who have no regard for their fellow living beings.
I feel sick.

Lets give them an education, on TNR, kindness, love and how sacred EVERY INDIVIDUAL LIFE IS.
Posted May 02, 2009, 3:30PM by jmuhj
I've written to all the officials linked herein. Hope YOU will, too. For the cats.
Posted September 04, 2009, 8:17AM by Carlona Coker
Requesting an update on the situation. Holmes County Humane Society member. Thanks.

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