Preface: This article was taken from the "Letters to the Editor" section of the campus newspaper.Names have been left out to protect the individuals.
DOGS CAN BE USED TO CONTROL FERAL CATS
Probably just as many students keep unauthorized dogs as cats in their living quarters. Probably just as many dogs as cats are no longer wanted when their owners graduate. I propose that the university take custody of one or two pairs of medium-sized to large (over 40 pounds) unwanted, student-owned dogs and release them in the cat colonies. Persons feeding cats will provide ample food for the dogs.
This is not a cat sanctuary (cats are just another part of the food chain). The dogs won't be a bad problem, they will be more like cat control. People may complain that dogs kill cats, but that's just the nature of things. Let's say we'll be left with only the strongest, fastest and smartest cats. Remember survival of the fittest?
After the cat population has been controlled, the dogs can be trapped, neutered and returned to campus.
Seriously, folks, if my proposal seems outrageous, then please reread ____1______'s, __________'s and _________'s remarks. Then ask yourself, "What's so special about cats?"
____1_______ is in error when she sees no middle ground between feeding the cats so well that each female produces eight kittens per year (2 litters x 4 kittens/litter) and starving them to death. There is a big physiological difference between starving to death and being reporductively inhibited by food storage. Cats, like many other mammals, adjust their reporductive effort to match food supply. If you are feeding even one fertile feral cat, even it is a member of a group of otherwise all-neutered cats, you are part of the feral cat problem.
_________
Ag & Horticulture, retired
re: the other articles...I didn't catch last weeks edition. I assume it can be found on the paper's website www.roundupnews.com
I WILL be writing a letter in response to this---just have to calm down first.... GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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