After an outbreak of rabies in the area, authorities in Gaston County, North Carolina began rounding up feral cats. The cats were housed in an animal shelter where the Animal Liberation Front activists apparently feared they would be euthanized. So on September 14, several ALF members broke in to the animal shelter and stole the cats. The raid was denounced by a local group trying to help the cats, Friends of Feral Felines. From personal experience trying to find humane ways to deal with feral cats, they tend to have a large number of health problems and diseases, and the ALF activists didn't do the cats or people concerned about rabies and other diseases any favors with their raid.
Animal advocates take issue with cat liberators .
Peter Smolowitz, The Charlotte Observer, September 15, 2000. Copyright 1998-2001 by Brian Carnell . All rights reserved.