Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

Cats are supposed to be kept indoors. There are some feral and some irrresponsible owners who let their cats roam. My girls have pretty much let me know that moving will not be an option. They've never had a lanai before and just know they're in kitty heaven.

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

They seem to be indoors all the time with a few exceptions.

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

I have cats and I also feed some strays that come to my deck. Not being a TV resident (yet) I can only say there are no bad/mean/unruly pets; there are unruly pet owners.

Dogs and cats do not have a voice - they depend on us. Feral or stray cats became this way because some human tossed them outdoors and abandoned them. Same with dogs; we have had puppies dumped here because people think we're all rich and can take care of them. Its' sad and disgraceful.

I will never ever let a cat go hungry. I trapped the two that come to my deck and did a TNR (trap, neuter, release). These cats are too feral to be domesticated and the only life they know is outdoors. As long as they have food, they can survive the elements and have done so for the last four years.

Stray dogs and cats didn't ask for this life; it's a matter of survival when they come begging for food.

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

I am not aware of any stray dogs in the Villages except for an occasional
"lost" pooch.

I have heard of coyotes in parts of the outskirts of TV. Did not an alligator kill a coyote or vice versa according to a Villages Daily Sun article a ways back?

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

Roaming cats, whether fed or unfed is as bad as roaming dogs...they all cause problems for neighbors not wanting to be subject to what roaming animals do (deficate, kill other animals, bark, howl or scream in the night, etc.). It is irresponsible to feed ferel animals, no matter how kind-hearted you think you are being. And justification just because it is a "cat" that can't be domesticated is no justification at all.

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

Aren't little Kitties and Doggies wonderful.. At night they are so much fun to watch as they tear into my trash bags and spread trash all over my beautiful driveway and I SO look forward to the morning when I can go out and clean it up ...And the little doggies are very talented as they are now so educated and pampered that they can poop and pee in little artistic patterns all over my front lawn ......I just love them so that it makes me want to hug them VERY HARD .... ;D ;D ;D ;D

The Pet Loving Fumar

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

fumar...I need to be your neighbor...we would make a great team!!

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

:agree: well said fumar.......

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

It is irresponsible to feed feral animals, no matter how kindhearted you think you are being. And justification just because it is a "cat" that can't be domesticated is no justification at all.

I hardly consider myself irresponsible and where I always try to see the good in people, I take your remark as a person who needs to be educated about why feral cats (and I'll just focus on cats) are a nuisance to people who don't know how to deal with strays.

I feed feral cats but I also trap them and have them fixed. It's called a trap, neuter, release. If I'm going to take the responsibity of feeding them, the humane thing to do is to have them fixed so they don't bring you litter after litter. There are many no cost clincs that believe in helping stray animals.

Read this, maybe it will help you deal with ferals that "bother you"

http://indyferal.org/Literature/Nuis...ion%20Tips.pdf

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

Talk Host, SteveZ, RussBoston, 8fmucci, The Great Fumar :agree: :agree: :agree:
nanci2539 - ever heard of rabies? Our pets get their rabies shots. Do the Ferrel cats? Want your grandchildren to pet one?

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

Tal,

Very informative link.
That site contains so much good information that I never knew.

Liz

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

Thanks. Here it is again. I was doing some editing. http://www.metroanimal.org/feral/main.shtml

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

nanci makes my point.* Somehow (and true, I don't get it -* and I've read all sorts of feral cat literature) cat proponents believe that just because the animal is a cat (spayed, neutered or the King of Siam) they are justified in promoting the free roaming of those animals throughout the neighborhood.* I think that is wrong.* Why not the free roaming of dogs that are spayed or neutered?* Guinea Pigs, Hampsters, Rats, Buffalo, Ferrets?* Why cats?* What special qualities do cats have that* their "defenders" find on which to base their rationale - other than their biased defense of their favorite animal's "natural tendency" to roam freely?* Well, every animal has the natural tendency to roam freely.* But does that justify it?* Hardly.* It is just disrespectful to your neighbors.

Yes, Cliff, I've heard of rabies.

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

I have been feeding feral cats for years and would not consider them as "free roaming" as they generally stay in my yard or close to my house. My next door neighbor complained that they killed her Koi fish but it turned out to be a free roaming raccoon.

Re: I don't understand such strong "feeling" against dogs
 

"...as they generally ??? stay in my yard or close ??? to my house. "

Cats can be very general animals...and they stay close to home, usually not more than 4 or 5 neighbors away.-* in all four directions. ;D