The time is always right to do what is right - MLK Jr.

It's been a hard few weeks in Florida for our feral friends (more so than it usually is, at least). The fight for the Loews cats continues to rage on, although thanks to the collective voices of many they seem to have stopped trapping and are currently accepting proposals on how to handle the situation.

There is also a major relocation/adoption effort underway in Miami, targeting the cats in AD Doug Barnes Park :

Cat Network is working in cooperation with Miami-Dade Parks Dept and Animal Services to trap, medically vet and put up for adoption the cats at AD Barnes Park. The Parks Dept has tried for almost 7 years to control the cat population in that park, but unsuccessfully. They have been threatened with a lawsuit because county law forbids cats in parks and it is not being enforced. So, to humanely remove the cats, we are looking for adoptive homes, farms, yards where these cats can go.

How can you help? We need volunteer trappers for Tues, Wed and Thu nights this week. We also need to volunteers to help at the adoption event on Sat and Sun, and volunteers to help take cats to vet that need sterilization, testing, etc. The adoption event will take place at AD Barnes Park 11-4pm. This  is a chance to make a difference in the lives of these cats. Any cats not adopted will be housed at an undisclosed location and the adoption event repeated.



These cats are actually ones I used to go and play with when I was a kid. There also may or may not have been a few from this colony that I tried to sneak home with me...! I've volunteered to help with this project, since these cats are near and dear to me.


The University of Miami has also been discussing our own feral cat population, with the fate of many in the hands of a few. I've done my best to educate those in a position to ensure their safety, and now can only wait for the verdict (although mark my words there will be a fight if the result isn't what I want to hear... the campus cat allies have all said they'd go to bat for the cats, and we're prepared to do whatever we need to do for them!!). I'll write more on this later...


There is also a legislative bill on the table to help support efforts to control pet overpopulation in Florida. It's a long shot, I'm not naive about that, but it's also the right thing to do and desperately needed. More to be posted shortly about this new bill as well.


So as you can see there is no rest for the weary when it comes to protecting our unwanted animals in Florida (and everywhere for that matter...). From cats to dogs and even raccoons, foxes and other critters, there are always those who want to take the easy route of extermination than the right path of humane control. They're always in need of voices fighting on their behalf, and volunteers to help make their lives more comfortable. I strongly urge everyone to get involved in any way possible... you can't save the lives of all of them, but even saving one changes that animals life forever.