From: swood@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Scott Wood - EVENSONG)
Subject: Dog discrimination? (was Re: Cat Control!)
Organization: Oakland University, Rochester MI.
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 01:35:19 GMT

	I am one of those from the school that any pet that does not serve
a valuable function is unecessary.  I am not against another person getting
a hamster, fish or even a cat or puffy little dog as a pet for the sake
of companionship, but to me it seems as fruitless and having a child and
letting them drop out of high school and sit on their dufus.

	One of my neighbors has been notorious for having pet problems with
the adjacent neighborhood.  One of the most profound in the past was in
regards to a large white dog the owned that attacked numerous people and
pets as well as scarring the face of a member of their own family to which
the family did nothing in response.  Finally the dog bit my mother and was
quaranteened by the local animal shelter and eventually put to sleep due to
the fact the family was not willing to give up the money just to save their
animal.

	When we first moved into our neighborhood, the only real noticeable
(outdoor) pets were dogs.  Most of which were well trained, mannered, and
kept under close supervision by their masters.  The surrounding area was
abundant with wildlife from squirrels and chipmunks, to wild birds, ducks
and even an occasional mink and muskrat in the swamp at the end of the
road.  The ducks in fact used to come by by the dozens.

	Then the cats started moving in.  As old neighbors moved out, we
had three different neighbors move in that had 'outdoor' cats.  Now there
is no more mink, I think I saw one duck this year, and the single squirrel
that I had tamed to eat out of my hand this spring is nowhere to be seen.
In fact, one afternoon, I heard a baby squirrel screaming out as though
being attacked, and later saw a rather gorged cat leaving the area in
question (probably ate the whole litter).

	At to the topic of the post however.  I don't really see the
stigma around cats, so I find it appauling that a dog is required to be
licensed, leashed, trained and monitored while cats (at least in my area)
are not restricted in any fashion.

	Calling the local animal shelter, they can't do anything unless I
catch one.  Ever try to catch a cat that didn't want to be caught?

	If I take matters into my own hands, I will have to face the
consequences (morally and legally should I get caught) and have to
start keeping an eye on my well trained dogs should they chase a cat
into their yard (as they many times have to do)

	These people don't follow up on the responsibility of owning
their animals and thus we have to face torn garbage on garbage day, tracks
inside our dwellings and vehicles, nightly fighting and mating vocalizations,
discovering feces in the flower beds when weeding or letting the dogs in
(have to smell it to understand) and risk having our animals catch disease
when they are just protecting our property.

	Bunk!  Plans are in the works for a have-a-heart trap, and next
time these cats break (literally) into our closed shed to get at the
garbage bags stored there, they will wake up at the pound....

swood



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