Saturday, December 3, 2011

Let's live harmoniously with community animals


Letter from Corinne Fong Executive Director, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
I REFER to Ms Lau Vi Minh's letter "If you love them, take ownership of community cats at home" (Dec 1).

Were it possible, I am sure that community cat feeders would readily take home the cats. But, if and when it happens, then Ms Lau could potentially be living next door to a cat feeder with many cats. How would she feel, and what will she do then?

That cats are a nuisance to vehicle owners? Are we so void of any feeling or compassion that we grumble about a few scratches?

They sleep on cars to receive warmth from the engines. If cats are alleged to cause scratch marks on cars, I would think car owners had better return to their car distributor to demand for a better paint job.

Community cats serve a purpose in the location they are in; that they remain in the vicinity does prevent a new colony from taking over.

Cat faeces and urine do not constitute health risks to the general human population, although we concede that cat faeces can pose a danger to developing babies and persons with weakened immune systems.

However, one would have to be in an enclosed room for an extended period of time and inhale cat faeces, or pick up faeces with bare hands, in order to catch the virus.

Some birds and other animals, as well as some raw, cured or under-cooked meats, can also carry the parasite.

All that the animal welfare groups ask of the public is that community animals and people try to co-exist in the same space.