Who cares in Copperas Cove? (Dallas, Kemp: crime, house, neighborhood)

[kathyk214]

Hi,
I am relatively new in Kempner and decided to volunteer for a local shelter in Copperas Cove. I had to quit because of what was taking place and could not stand being a part of it. So I went to the city officials and was on the Channel 25 news. I was also on the front page of the local newspaper.
I came here in hopes to find individuals that support Animal Welfare to help me with my cause. Right now I am only one fighting the city to make things right and I know there are others that would help if they could.
So if you, or someone you know would please contact me ASAP, I would greatly appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Kathyk

[kathyk214]

If you would like to know more about what I am fighting for and like to sign the petition...go to the petitionsite.com and look up copperas cove and mine is listed under "Treat pets more humanely"

[kathyk214]

I have a website designed for anyone interested in what is going on in Copperas Cove.
www.freewebs.com/kathyk214
thanks for the support,
kat

[lifertexan]

Most animal shelters have set policies about euthanising cats and dogs,based on the time spent at the shelter.After a preset time without being adopted they are killed.More cats being euthanized than dogs probably means there are simply more unwanted cats than dogs instead of a pro dog bias on the shelters part.I know far more people where I live have dogs than cats,so cats simply have less chance of being rescued,while they also breed uncontrollably more.Most dogs cannot get out of their yards and roam freely to meet up with other dogs and breed.

I wonder what your solution is beyond simply stopping the killings?What is to be done with all the saved cats,since if anyone wanted even the number that are there now they would be adopting them now and the shelter wouldn't be having to euthanise them now,much less the numbers that they will grow to if they are not killed?

[kathyk214]

Although that usually is the case, more cats than dogs, it is not here. For according the animal control report last year, they picked up 685 more dogs than cats. Yet they killed 735 cats, in comparison to euthanizing 476 dogs.
The point is that I worked with these people and I saw what went on behind closed doors.
The supervisor does not like cats and would not give them a fair chance like he did the dogs. You need to check out the report to see for yourself. I do NOT expect them to stop all the killing, that would not solve the problem.
I do expect them to follow the law and give those animals 3 days for owner reclaimation.
And the federal animal welfare act says 7 days so I would like to see that increased to at least 5 days, but at least give them the required 3 days. Which they do not, most cats are killed within 24 hours.
Anyway cats do not live long so if the city would help control the population by spay/neuter campaigns then there would not be a problem with overpopulation. They can do that by changing some laws...for example, if you do not spay/neuter your pet then you are required to have a breeder's license, etc...

[lifertexan]

The numbers of what was picked up is irrelevant.It is the numbers that people are willing to adopt from the shelter that counts.Many dogs that get picked up are ones that accidently got out and the owners come get them when notified the shelter has them,because most dog owners put their city tags on them.Many cat owners refuse to put the required city tags on a cat,and refuse to keep them inside,since cats easily get over fences,on the theory that this is too confining for cats because they are different than dogs in regards to collars and leashes.As a result cats without ID are picked up and regarded as strays,with no way to get in touch with the owners.I have very little sympathy for stray cats or for most cat owners.I had a next door neighbor that had about 15 cats,no exageration.A couple of her cats got sick,so she had the gall to come and tell me that I must have something in MY garage that her cats were getting into and that I needed to check it out.The idea of her keeping her cats on her property never entered her mind.

As far as not waiting the required days before killing the cats,if he is violating the guidelines then that is the arena to go after the problem,through his superiors in the city admin.No town in Texas is going to care about a bunch of internet petition signatures from people outside of their town.Besides,if there were people willing to adopt the cats then the cat fanciers could go down there daily and remove them on a daily basis and place them with new owners.Most likely experience has taught the people there that most cats picked up are feral and that there isn't going to be anyone adopting them.At any rate,if the guidelines are not being followed then it is only the superiors of the guy running the shelter,under pressure from local voters,who are going to fix the problem,not internet petition signatures from Dallas,or California.

[kathyk214]

I beg to differ, I have had over 700 signatures to say different. And I have been dealing with the city council and the police. As for the petition it was just a starting point with me and no longer a concern...I have been working on other ways to remedy the problem.
Unfortunately there is alot of people out there that hoard cats and not responsible guardians, but I have 2 acres that my cats (20) are allowed to roam free on and they have been trained to stay on my property. At night I keep them locked up in their own house, separate from mine. I have never had any complaints from my neighbors and I have even had neighbors bring me strays that they have found.
My cats know that they are safe on my property except when the dogs of the neighborhood come marching in on my property to chase them or kill my chickens. My town has no leash law so the dogs here wander free and so I have MANY problems with that.
So I went out and adopted a lab that now protects my cats from free roaming dogs. Anytime a dog wanders too close she will let me know and I will let her off the porch to chase them away. After a couple of chases they will give up and not return.
So with my experience, I have had more problems with dogs than with cats. Besides dogs can be very dangerous to people...whereas cats are just a nuisance. And people dump dogs and they let them run free.
That is a serious problem!!!

[lifertexan]

Well,like I said,I doubt that the leaders of CC care at all about internet signatures from outside of CC,700 or 7000.I know I wouldn't,and would probably be more inclined to thumb my nose at someone from California or Florida signing a petition trying to tell me how to run my own town in Texas.The city council and the voters are the place to handle the problem.But feral cats are a much more widespread problem than loose dogs.Loose dogs rarely breed and create packs of wild dogs.Most dumped dogs are picked up by the shelter,get run over or shot,or die from starvation.Cats are much more adaptable to life in the wild and many feral cats are truly wildlife in the same sense as deer or skunks.

If your cats are truly trained not to leave your property it would be the first time I ever saw that.Having 2 acres probably provides a larger area than they care to roam.Most cats have no understanding of boundaries at all.

[kathyk214]

You know what, I can debate you all day...and that would make no difference in what the point is.
This city is breaking their own law and expect the citizens to abide by it or "they will have the same fate". They expect us to abide by the city ordinances and they don't have to...NOT!
Yes, you can train cats...I spend 24/7 with mine and I walk my property daily with them so they do know the boundaries and that it is their sanctuary. The new ones stay in my home for a couple of weeks to get adapted and then moved out to the cats house for a couple of more weeks to adapt to that.
My system works and I don't have problems with it...I have several people as witnesses to the fact that they do stay in my yard.
What keeps them here is the fact that they are ALL sterilized, and well cared for. The reason cats would wander is for mating or prey...and since they are well fed and have toys to play with they are content and have no reason to roam.
And some of my cats were ferals to begin with. I just had to work harder on them and it took alot longer than the others.
I just don't think killing is the solution to any problem, and I am willing to do anything to stop a crime when I see it. So that is what I have been doing. But at the same time I have been learning ways that can resolve the issues at hand without killing.

[kathyk214]

The petition has helped but not in the way that is was intended. Because of the petition I attracted alot of media supporting my cause. So even though Copperas Cove could care less...it has stirred up enough people to write in to the council to let them know they will not vacation there and to write to the state governor to let him know what is going on there.
It has served it's purpose and I have no regrets. But thanks for sharing your opinion.