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

**Prairie Purrs** · 02-07-2007, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by K & L

http://www.alleycat.org/

Go to this site and click on Advocator/Caregiver and see if there is some helpful information on this subject. They have all kinds of information!

I just got off the phone with a wonderful person from the Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance, and that was one of the sites she recommended that I check out.

The RMACA is going to talk to the city zoning inspector (apparently the zoning people are real jerks when it comes to feral cats), but I'll most likely have to go along with what the city wants. And apparently, once the zoning people get on your case, they don't leave you alone. But the RMACA may be able to help me with relocating some of the ferals, if it comes to that.

I still have to figure out how to keep anyone from finding out about the indoor numbers. I think I already ticked off the inspector by telling her that I didn't believe she was allowed to search the house without a warrant.

**Catty1** · 02-07-2007, 03:37 PM

Also - if you want to try the media with a different angle, AGREE with whoever reported this and say that the best way to help - use it as home wanted for kitties! ASking the public for HELP might be different.

**kimlovescats** · 02-07-2007, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by CatsinDenver

I think I already ticked off the inspector by telling her that I didn't believe she was allowed to search the house without a warrant.

WHO CARES? Of course she'll have to have a warrant, unless you just kindly allow her to search your home! What do they expect????

You are wise not to get the media involved! I can promise you that it would turn into a "animal hoarder" story rather than a empathetic story for the kitties. Unfornately "hoarder" stories are more "human interest" to most "people" these days than helping innocent animals!

**Anikaca77** · 02-07-2007, 03:46 PM

Hi try this place

http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/s...ents/index.cfm

I understand you don't have a car but if you had someone willing to drive you to the vets to drop off and pick up the feral cats maybe best friends would be willing to help fund to get these cats fixed.

It's worth a shot, I know when I was dealing with a colony of cats I got a lot of help from them.

Melissa

**Prairie Purrs** · 02-07-2007, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Anikaca77

Hi try this place

http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/s...ents/index.cfm

I understand you don't have a car but if you had someone willing to drive you to the vets to drop off and pick up the feral cats maybe best friends would be willing to help fund to get these cats fixed.

It's worth a shot, I know when I was dealing with a colony of cats I got a lot of help from them.

Melissa

Unfortunately, it's not a matter of getting them fixed. The city doesn't care whether they're fixed or not--they just don't want anybody feeding them, or at least not feeding more than five total cats, whether those cats are indoor or feral. So if I got them fixed, I'd still be expected to let them starve.

**Prairie Purrs** · 02-07-2007, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by kimlovescats

WHO CARES? Of course she'll have to have a warrant, unless you just kindly allow her to search your home! What do they expect????

You are wise not to get the media involved! I can promise you that it would turn into a "animal hoarder" story rather than a empathetic story for the kitties. Unfornately "hoarder" stories are more "human interest" to most "people" these days than helping innocent animals!

Not only did the inspector get defensive when I said that an indoor inspection would require a warrant--she told me that she would assume that I was breaking the law because I told her that she'd need a warrant! She kept saying that the city ordinance allows her to go wherever she wants. I suggested that the U.S. Constutition might trump a city ordinance.

And yes, a hoarder story is exactly what I'd get from the local media. Apparently the zoning inspectors have been harassing cat owners to the point that they move out of town, but that's not the sort of thing that the local news outlets cover.

**kimlovescats** · 02-07-2007, 04:06 PM

She was down right hateful!!! I'd be careful, it sounds like they will be watching you closely, and you can bet they will come unannounced again!

I wish I had something to say to help you.

Shoot, I would consider trying to move them in the wee hours of the night, to another location where you could still go and feed them discreetly!

**Medusa** · 02-07-2007, 09:33 PM

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** · 02-07-2007, 10:42 PM

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** · 02-07-2007, 10:51 PM

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** · 02-07-2007, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by Catty1

. . . 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?

**Medusa** · 02-08-2007, 07:51 AM

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

Blessings,
Mary

**Randi** · 02-08-2007, 12:45 PM

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)))))))