Can you image
how dismayed I was to see a large cream colored cat pawing and gnawing on a
cardinal bird this spring?
Each year, free-roaming domestic cats kill hundreds of millions of birds
and small mammals, some of which are rare species in danger of extinction. In
addition, millions of outdoors cats are killed or injured by cars or in fights
with others cats, dogs, or wild animals. Free-roaming cats can contract
debilitating and life-threatening diseases, become lost, stolen, or poisoned.
It is clearly in the best interest of both cats and birds to keep cats inside
at home (American Bird Conservancy).
This
summarizes quite succinctly why pet owners should be keeping their cats as
indoor pets only. For the safety of your pet and for the well being of other
animals, please keep you pet inside.
It also is
against Madison Ordinances to allow cats or dogs to roam freely and fines and
impoundment is a possibility.
Madison Ordinance (Code 23.32) clearly states that it is unlawful for
the owner or keeper of any cat or dog to permit the same to run at large in the
City of Madison. A dog or cat shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the
premises of its owner or keeper, unless under the control of a person and
restrained by means of a chain, rope or cord of sufficient strength and of a
length not to exceed six feet to control the action of a such dog or cat.
Many bird
lovers and animal lovers in our neighborhood treasure the birds we try to
attract in our neighborhood. Letís work together to keep the birds here
so that all of us can enjoy the birds.
For more information see www.abcbirds.org
-The Bird Lovers of Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood
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Summer 2003 Table of Contents