View Full Version : Feeding Stray Cats
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 06:04 AM
Recently a women was fined $50.00 in Pompano Beach, Fl for feeding stray or
Feral cats. She would travel to a area away from her home and would feed the cats, she was photographed by an animal control officer and cited a ticket.
. In my congregation we have a 72 year old women that feeds stray cats too on her property. First I do not know if the city of Hollywood has the same laws as Pompano Beach. I wonder if the city can look over her fence and snaps some pictures of her crime.
I know it is not the right thing to do. But the baby kittens are all god's children.
What is your question Pastor?
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 06:44 AM
Can the city spy on your property
smearcase
Jan 9, 2013, 08:23 AM
Here are two quotes from the SunSentinel about the lady you were talking about.
"Palm Beach and Broward counties do not ban the feeding of feral cats, but do encourage people who tend feral colonies to have the cats fixed and vaccinated against rabies."
And
"Cat colonies are well established in cities throughout South Florida, including Hollywood, where a rescue group oversees a trap-neuter-return program to help keep the numbers under control."
If there is a similar law in Hollywood they would likely have mentioned it in the article.
So it would appear that the lady from your congregation is not breaking any law. But if she were and if the authorities received a complaint from a neighbor about it they could probably find a way to legally investigate and take action.
In my area, if they see home modifications going on, and if it is work requiring a permit they check to see if a permit is on file and take action if there is not one. Or if there is excavation being done in the yard they can ask for documentation that utility locating procedures have been followed etc. But these items are generally in plain sight.
This one opinion about the general subject of your question:
Code-Enforcement.Com | Investigation (http://www.code-enforcement.com/investigation/fences.html)
There are plenty of other opinions out there I'm sure.
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 09:00 AM
Very Excellent Information
Wondergirl
Jan 9, 2013, 09:21 AM
Here is contact information for a national organization that is doing a huge push with municipalities to do trap-neuter-return with feral and stray cats, as long as there is someone to feed the cat colony that's in jeopardy.
Get Help - Alley Cat Allies (http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=984)
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 09:43 AM
Thanks for the information
joypulv
Jan 9, 2013, 09:56 AM
Funny question, because I believe that cities that allow police and animal control officers to peer over fences are allowed to do so based on Katz vs United States, 1967. It was a landmark case interpreting the 4th Amendment in a modern way regarding wiretapping, but because the Court defined what they deemed to be not intrusive/invasive, all sorts of new interpretations resulted, including flying over houses in helicopters and peering over fences. Now we also have thermal imaging and all sorts of new fangled ways to 'intrude.' I'm sure more technology will keep the Court busy on this subject forever.
Feral cats can be a terrible health problem, so anyone who feeds them should also pay to have them spayed and neutered. They are the subject of huge debate in Australia, where they have reduced many rare species. Cat burning was a mid-summer celebration in France in the 1600s. The debate is an old one. (I own and love a cat.)
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 10:27 AM
These cats showed up one day. Nobody in the neighborhood will acknowledge it is their cats..
This women never had any pets. They told her do not feed the cats. But a mother cat came along with her tiny kittens ,showing up at her door. Passion ruled over judgement.
Thanks for the advice
Wondergirl
Jan 9, 2013, 10:42 AM
They told her do not feed the cats. But a mother cat came along with her tiny kittens ,showing up at her door. Passion ruled over judgement.
The kittens can be neutered very early in life, even as young as 6 weeks. A local no-kill animal shelter can arrange for the cat family to be humanely trapped and all cats neutered and then either adopted out or returned to this neighborhood (I'd go with adoption).
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 10:53 AM
The animal control has a new policy for 2013. A very short time before
Animal euthanasia takes place.
Wondergirl
Jan 9, 2013, 10:55 AM
All the more reason to immediately contact Alley Cat Allies or a local no-kill shelter.
joypulv
Jan 9, 2013, 11:42 AM
Perhaps you could ask the congregation if they would like to all be responsible - or what they think.
I got my first kitten in August 2 years ago. By the time she was ready to be spayed (I thought), we were hit with snow storms. I had to postpone the spay twice, she got out, and got pregnant. I didn't know it but suspected it because she stopped going into heat every 2 weeks. I went through with the spay. I was sad when they told me, but did not regret having it done then.
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 11:43 AM
Thanks I will pass on this vital information
pastor1189
Jan 9, 2013, 12:05 PM
I will ask