The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-27
DESERTION OF PETS
A CRUEL PRACTICE
Cats Are the Poor Animals Most Ere
quenhy Left to Become Com
mon Wayfarers.
BY FRANCES SHAFFER.

BY FRANCES SHAFFER.
In one of the most attractive resi-
dentiai districts in westchester County
n. Y, strange warfare is on against
cats. At least. 1t is strange in some
of its aspects.
II seems that a large feline commu-
nifty there, composed of something like
po shaggy fearsome animals, grown
more or less wild through their home
less estate, has been terrifying residents
and otherwise upsetting their mental
equilibrium. And so an early and very
determined raid is to be made upon the
cats, and their complete destruction is
promised.
But how did the cat hordes become
SO numerous, so wild and powerful?
Inc trouble began awhile ago when
some OF the finest homes were closed
for the winter and their owners took
night for their town residences. leay-
ing their pets" behind to forage for
themselves.
AT the beginning, it was mostly cats
OF nigh degree who were cast out upon
the world TO night or die, but their num-
pers became augmented by the pIebeians
from anywhere and everywhere and
pretty soon all became "strays" alike.
making their common home in a hos.
pitsble barn
There were hundreds of squirrels in
the park nearby and they furnished food
during the winter for the vast cat COL
ony. Then when spring time came with
Its hosts of song birds, which for years
had made the residential park delight
full, the hungry animals were on hand
TO devour the sweet songsters. which
fell easy prey TO their stealthy, soft
footed enemies
Became De, peraeIy Hungry,
The gay little squirrels and the sweet
throated singers were stiiled for all
time, but not so the cats They CON-
tinued their depredations, and in hun
cry desperation boldly approached
houses, greedily devouring anything
within their venturesome reach, between
times making day and night hideous with
their wild revelries..
Hence the promised onslaught
1t is sort of idle TO scold city folk WAC
profess a natural fondness for pets
and who declare their love for all sorts
of animals and then deliberately desert
them in the summer time when they make
their exodus to seashore or mountain
homes or in the fall when they are ready
for their winter residence once more
1t is idle. for it is not the animals they
love; II is their own convenience art.
their own selfish interests; and so the
seedlings do not sink very deep
1t falls on needless ears TO tell them
that 1t is inhuman to pet, feed, and house
animals for some luxurious months in the
year and then turn them over to the ten
DER mercies of chance or to some one
a degree more merciful than they.
1t is waste of time to warn them
that the outcasts develop into a shock
ing nuisance to the whole neighbo-hood.
for the disconsolate, half-starved animals
roaming about are as unlovely as they
are unloved. In the end, some one mus
iced them in response to the call o.
humanity or dispose of them, someho "
or other, at the same urgent call For
they disturb the peace Of mind of folk
who care. III
And as to the birds? It Is little enonsh
use TO plead with them to remember. th,.
gladstone little visitors who make their
summer homes with us, build nests, and
rear their young, only to see them de-
voured by the greedy providers. But 1t
takes the heart out of real bird-lovers
to see huge cat skulking about lust
waiting for the first downy little creature
TO show its head. For the tragedy is
over in flash. And it is more dismay-
ing still to see the mother-bird or the
fs ther-bird laid low.
But the one-time owners of the dis
carded ''pets"-what do they care?
Find Always Large.
When the summer season is over in
the islands on the coast of Maine. the
towns along the line send out men in
motor boats to search for animals
abandoned by summer residents when
they close their cottages And the find
is always large, so they say. In sum-
mer the islands are very beautiful but
in winter they are ice coated swept by |
heavy sleet storms. and every possible |
shelter is covered deep under the snow |
Hibernating animals are secure in their |
underground homes, for Nature looks out |
for that, but the pets have nothing
to do but slowly starve. since the food |
supply is down TO practically nothing
So, when the residences are all sealed |
up for the months of winter. the Animal |
Refuge Of Portland and similar societies |
in other towns take up their work of |
rescue. And many an ugly story of |
wanton abandonment they tell, and many |
a tragic little family history they un-
earth on their rounds of the islands |
along the coast.
Cats, household pets during the days
of their brief summer glory, are the
animals oftenest deserted, for dogs
generally are more valuable and are
not left to become common wayfsrers
at their owners pleasure. subsisting on
the cold charity of the countryside or
the city streets.
Aristocrats today, masterless, homeless
"strays" tomorrow-what of their indif-
ferent, professedly 'pet-loving" owners.