Previous alert here.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Jan 8, 2008 10:39 AM
Subject: The Prosecutor Speaks: How the Galveston Cruelty Trials Helps Protect Feral Cats

There has been much incorrect and conflicting information about the Galveston cat-killing trial. To set the record straight, Alley Cat Allies went to the source and interviewed the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Paige Santell.

As you read in an earlier Feral Power!, James Munn Stevenson went on trial for felony animal cruelty on November 12, 2007, after shooting a feral cat with a .22 caliber rifle.

Visit our website to hear audio clips of Ms. Santell’s thoughts on the trial, including the facts of the case, the feral cat caregiver of the cat who was killed, and the impact of the amended law.

For those of us who care for stray and feral cats, State v. Stevenson is an important reminder that the lives of these animals are protected under state laws. And some prosecutors do take the violations of these laws seriously. Working together, we can ensure that the anti-cruelty laws in all states are crystal clear, and that any violation will be prosecuted.

* Hear clips from the interview with Assistant District Attorney Paige Santell.
* Visit our Anti-Cruelty Center for more information on this case and other legal issues surrounding feral cats and cat cruelty.

Thank you so much for your support.

Sincerely,

Wendy M. Anderson
Legal Director

Alley Cat Allies · 7920 Norfolk Avenue · Suite 600 · Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 · www.alleycat.org
ACA is the owner and sole moderator of the Feral Power! e-mail list.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts alley cat allies feral power feral cats cats felines animal abuse animal cruelty cruelty to animals texas Galveston tx news in the news pet companion animal Paige Santell James Munn Stevenson

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Dec 11, 2007 1:10 PM
Subject: Alley Cat Allies Sends Letter Urging Senator Boxer to Oppose H.R. 767

Alley Cat Allies Sends Letter Urging Senator Boxer to Oppose H.R. 767

Proposed bill H.R. 767, the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act, seeks to eradicate “harmful nonnative species” in federal wildlife refuges and adjacent private lands. Although the word “cat” does not appear anywhere in the proposed bill, the broad definition of “harmful nonnative species” could leave hundreds of species open to target—including cats.

The proposed bill passed the House of Representatives. It has now been referred to the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer, who is generally favorable to animal issues. Alley Cat Allies has sent Senator Boxer a letter, also signed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States, urging her to oppose the bill.

Alley Cat Allies has spoken to Senate staff members who report that the Committee will take no action on the bill before the end of December. At this time, we aren’t calling for any citizen action, but we will do so if the bill progresses any further.

Read more about the proposed bill.

Read the text of the proposed bill. (.pdf)

Read the letter Alley Cat Allies sent to Senator Boxer (.pdf)

If you have received this email from a friend and are not already a member of Feral Power!, click here to sign up

Alley Cat Allies · 7920 Norfolk Avenue · Suite 600 · Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 · www.alleycat.org

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts alley cat allies ferals cats cat felines Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act ecology environment barbara boxer

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Nov 20, 2007 6:03 AM
Subject: Galveston, TX, Cat Cruelty Case Ends in Mistrial - No Retrial

Galveston, TX, Cruelty Case Won’t Be Retried

A mistrial was declared on Friday, November 16, 2007 in the case of the Galveston, TX, man charged with animal cruelty for shooting and killing a feral cat. The jury was deadlocked after more than eight hours of deliberation over two days, with eight of 12 jurors voting to convict. It is important to note that although the defendant was not found guilty, he was also not found innocent.

Alley Cat Allies responded immediately with a public letter to the Galveston County District Attorney urging him to retry the case.

The District Attorney’s office decided against a retrial. While this decision is disappointing, Texas law has recently been clarified to expressly protect feral cats, and to make it unequivocally clear that anyone who intentionally kills any cat—pet, stray, or feral—will have violated Texas anti-cruelty law.

Please visit our Anti-Cruelty Resource Center regularly as we update it with current events and ways you can join the movement to end cruelty to all cats.

Alley Cat Allies · 7920 Norfolk Avenue · Suite 600 · Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 · www.alleycat.org

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts alley cat allies feral power feral cats cats felines animal abuse animal cruelty cruelty to animals texas Galveston tx news in the news pet companion animal

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Oct 3, 2007 8:03 AM
Subject: Oct 16th is NFCD - Spread the Word About National Feral Cat Day!

Spread the Word About National Feral Cat Day!

Photo via Salim Virji

It’s easy to spread the word about National Feral Cat Day even if you aren’t able to hold an event! It’s a great opportunity to:

* Write a Letter to the Editor with the templates we have available at www.NationalFeralCatDay.org or write your own based on the tips we provide.

* Submit Alley Cat Allies Public Service Announcements to your local paper – Alley Cat Allies even provide an email cover letter to use when emailing in the PDFs.

* Send out a Media Advisory simply announcing National Feral Cat Day with no event listed.

These are all really easy things to help spread the word if you don’t have the time or resources to host an event!

Thank you for your support,

Alley Cat Allies

Interested in donating?

Order your Posters Today!

Alley Cat Allies · 7920 Norfolk Avenue · Suite 600 · Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 · www.alleycat.org
ACA is the owner and sole moderator of the Feral Power! e-mail list.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts Alley Cat Allies cat feline pet companion animal feral cat national feral cat day holidays observances flickr october 16

Action Alerts

Defenders of Wildlife: These Owls Need Your Help
Urge officials at the Fish & Wildlife Service to scrap the current plan and reconvene the Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Team to develop a real recovery plan that benefits the spotted owl, not just the timber industry.

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Urge Abilene Mayor to send surviving elephant to a sanctuary, not another zoo
IDA Urges Closure of Elephant Exhibit Following Tanzy’s Death

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Urge USDA to send Ringling Bros. elephants packing
Two elephants with Ringling Bros. need to be retired

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Urge Amazon.com to stop promoting illegal animal fighting
Activists target illegal bloodsports in wake of Vick indictment

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Keep Chicago’s Humane Ban on Foie Gras in Place
Chicago residents, please sign this petition to tell your alderman you support the ban on foie gras in Chicago.

(more…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Jun 7, 2007 2:49 PM
Subject: TAKE ACTION! Tragedy Could Lead to the End of TNR in Cape May, NJ

URGENT: Tragedy Could Lead to the End of Trap-Neuter Return (TNR) in Cape May, NJ!

Your help needed to maintain renowned TNR program - send a letter now!

A terrible tragedy fell upon the Cape May, New Jersey Animal Control and a local animal organization, Animal Outreach. Early in the morning on Saturday, May 18th, 37 cats were killed in a fire that broke out in two trailers where the cats were housed – one used by animal control, the other by Animal Outreach of Cape May County.

Cape May’s feral cat Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program was one of the first of its kind and has been thriving for more than a decade. The city was one of the first to fund and legislate TNR as their feral cat policy, which has proven to be successful in the continued management and reduction of feral cats. Some of you may be familiar with the program because it is highlighted as a success on Alley Cat Allies’ video, “The Humane Solution: Reducing Feral Cat Populations with Trap-Neuter-Return.”

Feral cat advocates have looked to Cape May as an example of what can be done when local government, non-profit organizations, and residents come together to protect cats.

Unfortunately, the local Cape May government is using this tragedy as a reason to discontinue the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. Pressured by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the City is being forced to decide between continuing the feral cat program and adopting a new Beach Management Plan written by the federal government. If the city council repeals the TNR program, any cats picked up will go to the county shelter which is so overloaded with cats that majority of them are killed. Eliminating the TNR program would result in an increase of feral and stray cats, a major step backwards for Cape May animal control and citizens of Cape May who have come to rely on this humane managment plan.

While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s interest is in protecting the endangered species residing on Cape May’s beaches, it has little scientific proof that cats harm these species. Further, it is quite likely that there would be significantly more cats residing on the beaches if it were not for the efforts of Cape May’s animal control and local non-profits to TNR the cats.

TAKE ACTION: Support Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in Cape May

The City of Cape May relies on tourist dollars and needs to hear from you. Contact the city council and the mayor to send your condolences for the loss of their community’s cats and encourage them to continue the standing TNR program. Tell them how their progressive, precedent-setting policy has been a model to other cities around the country. They need the encouragement and the support from feral cat advocates nationwide to see just how significant their work has been.

Send a Letter Now!

(more…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Jun 1, 2007 11:03 AM
Subject: Save The Date! ACA’s Mid-Atlantic Cat Advocacy Seminar October 2007

Mark Your Calendars!

You are invited to Alley Cat Allies’ Mid-Atlantic Cat Advocacy Seminar!

When: Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13, 2007

Where: Washington, DC metro area

This two-day conference is designed to accommodate both activists and professionals in the field. This is an opportunity to learn how you can advocate for change in your community. This seminar is a must for those interested in stopping the killing at their shelters and creating humane programs for outdoor cats.

Registration and program details will be released soon!

Whether you’re an animal control officer, feral cat caregiver, public official, or activist, you will gain valuable information on pressing issues facing those working with feral cats.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES and win free conference registration!

Do you have a story exemplifying how you used Alley Cat Allies’ materials (videos, books, factsheets, newsletters, etc) to advocate for feral cats in your community? Whether you changed the mind of one neighbor or helped start a municipal Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, we want to know how you used our educational materials to make a difference.

Essays should be no longer than 300 words, well written, and creative.

The authors of the two best essays will receive free registration to the Alley Cat Allies’
Mid-Atlantic Cat Advocacy Seminar and hotel accommodations for two nights!

Send your essays to alleycat [at] alleycat.org. Deadline is July 15, 2007.

Stay tuned to www.alleycat.org/events.html to register online in the upcoming weeks and find out more details about the conference such as fees, location, program, and speakers.

Alley Cat Allies · 7920 Norfolk Avenue · Suite 600 · Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 · www.alleycat.org

ACA is the owner and sole moderator of the Feral Power! e-mail list.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts Alley Cat Allies cat feline feral cats wild cats events education conferences

UPDATE, 5/25/07, via Alley Cat Allies:

Alley Cat Allies has been working day and night to stop an inhumane and ineffective plan to remove feral cats residing within the National Key Deer Refuge in southern Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is wrongly claiming that the feral cats are responsible for the diminished population of marsh rabbits.

Backing off from their original plan of trapping and killing these cats, the Fish and Wildlife Service now plans to trap the cats and take them to a shelter. We all know that 71.6% of cats in shelters are killed.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has also stated that trapped cats are likely to remain unprotected in the traps for as long as 12 hours, leaving them exposed to lethal swarms of red ants.

Now, in a last-minute effort to save countless feral cats, we have appealed to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, an animal lover, for help - asking him to publicly denounce the killing and urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow a nonlethal management program to humanely reduce the cat population. Marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) in the Florida Key Deer National Refuge were named for Mr. Hefner, after he financed the 1980 research study that identified the species.

As a supporter of Alley Cat Allies and feral cats, you know that the only long term solution to managing these feral cats and their environment is to implement a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

Weird. Just…weird.

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UPDATE, 5/10/07, via Alley Cat Allies:

Recently, we wrote to you about the National Key Deer Refuge in Florida, where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to trap and kill the feral cats. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service claims that they have not yet begun the process of trapping and killing but will begin in the middle of May. Feral cat advocates have fought for several years to prevent this from happening – still the authorities are insistent. Your help is needed. While the refuge may not be located near you, it is federally protected land, which legally belongs to all of us. Please take action to tell your federal representatives that killing cats on federal land is ineffective, inhumane, and inappropriate.

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Via Alley Cat Allies:

Protect Cats in the National Key Deer Refuge

Effective immediately, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has begun the process of trapping and killing feral cats residing within the National Key Deer Refuge in southern Florida. Feral cat advocates have fought for several years to prevent harm to these cats – still the authorities are insistent. Take Action – contact your federal representatives today and tell them you oppose killing cats on federal lands.

These feral cats are being singled out as the reason for a diminished population of marsh rabbits; while the main reasons for their depopulation is habitat loss. Studies done on feral cats and their impact on indigenous species are often misleading and can cause knee-jerk reactions by authorities. These reactions can result in inhumane and ineffective actions! You can read more about feral cats and wildlife on the Alley Cat Allies website.

The only long term solution to managing feral cats and their environment is to implement a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

Your help is needed. While the refuge may not be located near you, it is federally protected land, which legally belongs to all of us. With that in mind, take action to let your federal representatives and the Florida delegation of representatives know that killing cats on federal land, as a form of management, is ineffective, inhumane, and inappropriate.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts alley cat allies feral power National Key Deer Refuge feral cats trapping killing Florida TNR Trap-Neuter-Return cat feline Hugh Hefner Playboy

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Mar 27, 2007 1:01 PM
Subject: Feral Cats in Syracuse, KS Need YOUR Help!

Large Feral Cat Colony in Syracuse, KS Needs YOUR Help!
100 barn cats in Syracuse, KS need new homes!

The owner of the farm where these cats have resided for years has moved to a nursing home. Feral cat groups in your community have intervened to save these cats. Relocation is the only option.

Friends of Felines in Sedgwick, Kansas, Cat Care Network in Raton, New Mexico, and Best Friends Animal Society have made plans to humanely trap, spay/neuter, and vaccinate these feral cats but they still need your help.

With the efforts of feral cat groups, concerned veteranians, and local citizens, these cats will find new and welcoming outdoor homes.

Friends of Felines is leading this effort and needs your help:

* Volunteers to help with trapping and transporting the cats

* RELOCATION SITES! Friends of Felines can assist with preparations at the relocation site. They will only relocate cats in groups of five or more

* Donations to purchase traps and carriers

If you are interested in joining others in your community to help these cats, please contact Ray Huff of Friends of Felines:

Email: info [at] felinefriendsks.com
Home: 316-772-0329
Cell: 316-305-8237
Pager: 316-281-0464

Donate on-line

Alley Cat Allies · 7920 Norfolk Avenue · Suite 600 · Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 · www.alleycat.org

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts Alley Cat Allies Feral Power cat feline feral cat Syracuse Kansas Friends of Felines Best Friends Best Friends Animal Society cat care network trap spay neuter release TNR

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Feral Power! - alleycat [at] alleycat.org
Date: Sep 26, 2006 4:42 PM
Subject: Avenal Prison update! Write a Letter to the Editor to support TNR at Avenal Prison

Write Letters to the Editor to support TNR at Avenal!

Read “Prison cat program declawed; fur flies,” which explains the ongoing battle local Avenal, CA activists (Feral Paws Rescue) fight to reinstitute Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) at Avenal Prison - front page news in the Fresno Bee on Monday, September 25, 2006.

This article points out clear flaws in the prison’s reasons for ending their five year TNR program. Volunteers were able to reduce the feral cat population from 600 to 200 with no state funding, but they claim the program was ineffective.

Take action: Write a firm but polite Letter to the Editor stating that Trap-Neuter-Return should be reinstituted on the prison grounds to humanely reduce and manage outdoor cats. Please respect the 200 word limit for each paper. Encourage the San Francisco Chronicle to pick up the story since this hot topic issue needs more media coverage.

* Write a Letter to the Editor of the Fresno Bee HERE.

* Write a Letter to the Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle HERE.

Action Center

Continue to write letters to the Avenal Prison Warden, the California Department of Corrections and the Governor of California to ask for a revision of the prison’s policy on cats! Visit our Action Center to take action: HERE.

Alley Cat Allies · 7920 Norfolk Avenue · Suite 600 · Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 · www.alleycat.org

ACA is the owner and sole moderator of the Feral Power! e-mail list.

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