Cat Traps!!
Posted: 01 Jul 2014, 20:54
Help save innocent cats from being trapped and murdered due to a downright unreasonable feline leash law.
These cats don't cause trouble. I've personally come across some neighborhood cats while on walks. Many of them will come when called, and will try to play with you, encouraging you to stop and pet them. They aren't mean or even vaguely dangerous, they're just looking for affection.
But this neighbor called in to report that there were "cats off leashes". Quick question- how many people actually put their inside/outside cats on a leash? While some people have had success training kittens to accept harnesses, older cats like my own will fight them. Leash training a cat takes time and effort that a lot of families can't give, not to mention the fact that older cats will destroy a harness.
You can't expect a cat to stay in a fence the way a dog would; as long as they have claws, they can jump over barriers with ease. But declawing is cruel, and has been proven to cause permanent nerve and psychological damage to cats. Collars can be dangerous, as they can easily be caught and strangle the poor creature.
However, for some bizzare reason, Sumner County Animal Control chooses to enforce a leashing regulation for cats. I've never heard of this before this vindictive neighbor called Animal Control, and it's utterly ridiculous. For a dog? Sure! Dogs are receptive to training, and most can't jump fences. But a cat is much, much harder to contain and train.
So what are they doing about these cats off leashes? Traps with bait are being set to catch them, and they will be sent to a shelter that puts animals to sleep if they aren't adopted. Owners will not be informed if their pets are at the shelter, even if the animal is collared or has a tracking chip. A rather hefty fee of $100 is charged to anyone wanting to take an animal, even if it's their pet that was trapped or lost.
Animal Control came to inform us of this, explaining that traps would be set all over the subdivision and checked for new animals. In the summer heat of Tennessee, it can and does reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit- any animal stuck outside without water for a prolonged period could easily die. These traps only endanger local cats, as well as other wildlife like squirrels, foxes, and groundhogs. This is animal cruelty, at the hands of the people who are meant to help animals.
To boot, they explained these traps in front of my five year old sister, who loves our cats more than anything. She was in tears and inconsolable, afraid that her favorite kitty is going to be caught and murdered just for taking a walk.
How can you help? Sign this petition. Let the Sumner County Animal Control know what you think of their feline leash regulations, and let them know that you think these traps are a danger to local animals.

Above is a picture of one of my cats, a beautiful and loving rescue named Mocha. Should he be trapped and even at risk of euthanization for simply doing what a cat does? I don't think so, and I hope you don't, either.
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Please please please sign this. My cats are outdoor cats too, and I'd hate to see one of them get trapped and hurt for wandering merely wandering around and doing their thing. Even if you don't like cats, help save them for the people who do. Every signature helps. We need a little over 250 more!!!! Please help!
It only takes a minute to sign, please please PLEASE do it!
ps. mocha's a really pretty cat wow just look at those eyes
**EDIT** THEY CHANGED THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED. THE NUMBER IS NOW 15k, NOT 10k. PLEASE SIGN IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. 4.6k+ SIGNATURES ARE NEEDED.
These cats don't cause trouble. I've personally come across some neighborhood cats while on walks. Many of them will come when called, and will try to play with you, encouraging you to stop and pet them. They aren't mean or even vaguely dangerous, they're just looking for affection.
But this neighbor called in to report that there were "cats off leashes". Quick question- how many people actually put their inside/outside cats on a leash? While some people have had success training kittens to accept harnesses, older cats like my own will fight them. Leash training a cat takes time and effort that a lot of families can't give, not to mention the fact that older cats will destroy a harness.
You can't expect a cat to stay in a fence the way a dog would; as long as they have claws, they can jump over barriers with ease. But declawing is cruel, and has been proven to cause permanent nerve and psychological damage to cats. Collars can be dangerous, as they can easily be caught and strangle the poor creature.
However, for some bizzare reason, Sumner County Animal Control chooses to enforce a leashing regulation for cats. I've never heard of this before this vindictive neighbor called Animal Control, and it's utterly ridiculous. For a dog? Sure! Dogs are receptive to training, and most can't jump fences. But a cat is much, much harder to contain and train.
So what are they doing about these cats off leashes? Traps with bait are being set to catch them, and they will be sent to a shelter that puts animals to sleep if they aren't adopted. Owners will not be informed if their pets are at the shelter, even if the animal is collared or has a tracking chip. A rather hefty fee of $100 is charged to anyone wanting to take an animal, even if it's their pet that was trapped or lost.
Animal Control came to inform us of this, explaining that traps would be set all over the subdivision and checked for new animals. In the summer heat of Tennessee, it can and does reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit- any animal stuck outside without water for a prolonged period could easily die. These traps only endanger local cats, as well as other wildlife like squirrels, foxes, and groundhogs. This is animal cruelty, at the hands of the people who are meant to help animals.
To boot, they explained these traps in front of my five year old sister, who loves our cats more than anything. She was in tears and inconsolable, afraid that her favorite kitty is going to be caught and murdered just for taking a walk.
How can you help? Sign this petition. Let the Sumner County Animal Control know what you think of their feline leash regulations, and let them know that you think these traps are a danger to local animals.

Above is a picture of one of my cats, a beautiful and loving rescue named Mocha. Should he be trapped and even at risk of euthanization for simply doing what a cat does? I don't think so, and I hope you don't, either.
========================================================================
Please please please sign this. My cats are outdoor cats too, and I'd hate to see one of them get trapped and hurt for wandering merely wandering around and doing their thing. Even if you don't like cats, help save them for the people who do. Every signature helps. We need a little over 250 more!!!! Please help!
It only takes a minute to sign, please please PLEASE do it!
ps. mocha's a really pretty cat wow just look at those eyes
**EDIT** THEY CHANGED THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED. THE NUMBER IS NOW 15k, NOT 10k. PLEASE SIGN IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. 4.6k+ SIGNATURES ARE NEEDED.