I need a shoulder to cry on. And a little help, if possible.

[Medusa]

Y'know, when I was sheltering and feeding ferals, every rescue group and organization that I called turned me down flat w/out explanation. Fortunately, I lived on a hill, far from view of everyone else, so my shelters went virtually unnoticed. Do your best to get friends to shelter them if/when the inspector comes back. Then when you feel it's safe, bring the ferals back to where they know they'll get fed and sheltered. These people just don't get it. I hope they come back in their next lives as feral cats. Then they'll get it.

Blessings,
Mary

[Prairie Purrs]

Well, it just got worse.

This morning's visit was from a zoning inspector. Tonight an animal control officer showed up and ticketed me, and I have to show up in court in about a month. It looks like they're going to keep bugging me, so I will probably have to permanently rehome five of my indoor cats.

The worst part is that the animal control officer insisted on knowing the names and descriptions of the five cats I "officially" have. So I had to think on the fly about which ones to make "official." That means I will probably have to give up Katie, Hagrid, Angel, Oz, and Cricket. They're shy, older cats and not likely to be adopted from a shelter.

The animal control guy told me that whoever reported me claimed to have tried to talk to me and that I wouldn't respond. That's a lie! Nobody has ever come over to talk to me about the cats.

I am so miserable right now.

[Catty1]

I wish you could find one decent person at a shelter or somewhere that could give you legal advice, or if you could talk to someone who has "been there".

I remember Catmandu, with the help of his vet, was able to have his home declared some sort of shelter, legally...if you can get a free consult with a lawyer, or a kind zoning officer, maybe there is something you can do?

I hope they know your neighbour or whoever lied. That no one spoke to you.

Even if you APPLY for re-zoning or whatever, that will buy you some time! They can't do anything til it's refused!

HUGS and prayers!

[Prairie Purrs]

. . . legally...if you can get a free consult with a lawyer . . .

This actually gave me my first smile for the day. Although I'm not licensed at the moment, I do have a law degree and I've practiced in the past. So in a way, talking to myself could be considered a free consult with a lawyer.

Imagine this: if I were to throw five of my cats out on the street, refuse to feed them, and shoo them off my property any time I saw them there, the city would be fine with that. The cats would die, of course. But the city would be fine with that, too. They would rather have dead cats than live ones.

What in the world is wrong with people?

[Catty1]

SOOO - look into having your house declared a pet refuge, or whatever the legal term is for it there!

Ya don't swing, ya don't hit!

[K & L]

This whole issue just burns me up! Why don't they take the efforts and go after the ones that are abusing the animals! All I can say is they're a bunch of IDIOTS! I'm sorry you have to go through all of this.

[Medusa]

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Maybe it is time to get the media involved.

Blessings,
Mary

[Randi]

I am SO very sorry to read this. It's disgusting how cruel and ignorant people treat homeless and helpless animals! How can these people get up in the morning and face themself!! I'll quote Medusa and say: I hope they come back in their next lives as feral cats. Then they'll get it!

These cats don't harm anybody, they just need a shelter from the cold and some food every day. I could understand the inspector getting worked up about it, if they were left to fend for themselves and no one wanted to care for them, but that's not the case. This is just too much!!

I see some have suggested you contact the media, and perhaps that's what you need to do. There must be humanity somewhere! If you could get hold of the right person to write an article about this, it might help. Does anyone here have contacts in the media world?

As Kim suggested, perhaps you try to move them in the wee hours of the night, to another location where you could still go and feed them discreetly!I really hope the RMACA will be able to help relocate them - and I hope you can find homes for Katie, Hagrid, Angel, Oz, and Cricket, if neccesary.

I'm sending my best throughts for the kitties and you.

What a sad world!!

((((((Big hugs)))))))

[Prairie Purrs]

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words. I haven't heard anything yet from the RMACA, so I'm still pretty much in limbo. I have talked to a couple of friends, but they can't take in any of my cats even temporarily.

I'm really wondering whether I should just pack up and leave. I'm not sure that I want to live in a neighborhood where the neighbors are going to be spying on me around the clock to make sure that they never see a cat in my yard.

[kimlovescats]

Hey, if you don't have a car or a friend who would be willing to drive you during the wee hours of the night, how about calling a cab? I'm sure for the right tip, a cabby would keep his mouth shut about your trips! What does everyone think? I've never been in a cab in my life, so I may be way off base here?

[Lizzie]

First of all, your shy and elderly cats are not going to end up at a shelter. I would lose my mind if I was threatened with this so I can imagine how you are feeling. Between us all we can shoe-horn in another one or two here or there, we just have to get our rears in gear on how to transport. Both B.F. and 911Rescue, and lots of Yahoo groups, have tons of experience in long-distance transport (cheaply).

You are going to be miserable in your neighborhood from now on, not knowing who is spying on you and when, knowing how your neighbors feel about other forms of sentient life. Can you move to a place outside the city limits where you can have more animals and still do your job?

I know what it feels like to be spied on although the neighbor who was the greatest threat to me sold up her house last year - relief! However, the people living next to me are the kind to judge first and ask questions later. I try to make sure that only one front window is available for cat sitting at any time.

I hope the rescue can help you with the ferals because it's going to be unendurable to you to simply stop feeding them, or move away from them and leave them to their miserable fate.

Do you belong to the Best Friends Network? They have a Colorado community that you can post to and it may make you feel less alone.

[Prairie Purrs]

Hey, if you don't have a car or a friend who would be willing to drive you during the wee hours of the night, how about calling a cab? I'm sure for the right tip, a cabby would keep his mouth shut about your trips! What does everyone think? I've never been in a cab in my life, so I may be way off base here?

There's really no place I could relocate the ferals, though. Maybe I'll be able to find someone with a barn who would be willing to take them, but I can't just move them to another part of town.