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Cat Forum / Rescue / July 2004ethics: The stray that wasn't..
About three weeks ago this nice little tom started visiting us. We have two indoor cats and they were pretty agitated. He kept coming around, and I took a good look at him. He was un-neutered, looked to be a year or two old, was bedraggled and riddled with ear mites. Other than that he was friendly and seemed in good health. He didn't seem bothered by the cats trying to tunnel through the picture window to get to him.. his response was to spray our house. And our car. And our garden.. etc. After a couple weeks, I decided I'd put some food out for him, which he graciously wolfed down and asked for more. I put a cardboard box in the shade for him to lay in, and he took up residence. Well, to make a long story short, I checked the Humane Society, asked around the neighborhood and put up posters, but no one recognized him. So we made the decision to adopt him. Took him to the vet, got his vaccinations, cleaned his ears, and got him fixed. About $450 altogether, which we could barely spare.. Today a kid bikes up to me and says "hey mister, remember that cat you were asking about? Someone has a lost cat poster up at the rec center and it looks like him". Now.. if someone 'owned' him and let him rove freely, un-neutered, and let the mites get to the point where his ears were running, should I call them and tell them I found their cat? Maybe there's a little kid who loves that (absentee) cat as much I love my cats. Maybe they didn't know better. If it turns out to be him, should I call? Brian Link, Minnesota Countertenor ---------------------------------- "I think animal testing is a terrible idea; they get all nervous and give the wrong answers." - regmech > About three weeks ago this nice little tom started visiting us. We > have two indoor cats and they were pretty agitated. [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Brian Link, Minnesota Countertenor I guess I'd go check out the lost cat poster to see if this really could be the cat you have. Many times they have a date when the cat went missing on the posters which might assist you in making the decision whether to call or not. If they said the cat just recently went missing then I'd keep him. If they let the cat get in this condition they shouldn't have a cat. If the poster has been there a while then there is a possibility he just got out on them and has been wandering long enough to get in this shape. Legally I don't know if you can keep the cat or not if it is the cat on the poster. But you might be able to recoup at least some of the money you spent if you have to surrender the cat to the owners. W blink@visi.com writes > if someone 'owned' him and let >him rove freely, un-neutered, and >let the mites get to the point where >his ears were running, should I >call them and tell them I found their <cat? If someone let their cat out without spaying/neutering her/him first...I'd say, they lost any rights or courtesy in "notifying" them about the whereabouts of said cat. If the cat acccidently ran outside, then, that's another tale......Perhaps they were treating the cat (for the earmites) before he "accidently got out"? >Now.. if someone 'owned' him and let >him rove freely, un-neutered, and let the >mites get to the point where his ears were >running, should I call them and tell them I >found their cat? No. It's probably not the same cat anyway considering that the lost cat sign is up long after you took him in and brought him back to health. You've given this cat good care and a good home, and took all the required steps to find the previous owner. He's yours now. Megan  Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray > About three weeks ago this nice little tom started visiting us. We > have two indoor cats and they were pretty agitated. [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > If it turns out to be him, should I call? Yes. >About three weeks ago this nice little tom started visiting us. We >have two indoor cats and they were pretty agitated. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >they get all nervous and give the wrong answers." > - regmech That is a tough call. On the one hand, it could be that they cat went missing awhile back (in which case, why wouldn't they have posters up earlier?) and that's how he got in this shape. And as you said, you wouldn't want to break a little kids' heart. On the other hand, I have less and less patience for anyone who deliberately allows their cat out, doesn't spay/neuter, etc. I used to try *very* hard to track down owners -- knocking on doors, looking for signs, calling the Humane Society, etc. I seem to try less hard, especially when I find an unneutered cat full of fleas and mites who clearly hasn't been cared for. Over the years, I have found and returned cats to their homes -- in those cases, the cat snuck out and had only been gone a day or so, and they were in good shape. Others I have found were in bad shape, and I never did see any signs, get any knocks on my door (I'm kinda the "neighborhood cat lady", or find anywhere they seemed to belong. Bottom line, what do you feel is the right thing to do for the cat? And that's your answer. Best of luck, Ginger-lyn I'd keep him - you just spent time and money getting him healthy. Not to mention fixed. If the cat went missing weeks ago and they are only now looking for it shame on them. I once found a stray dog, I knocked on doors, nobody knew who dog belonged to. Had no choice but to take it to shelter (that puts them down if they get crowded - how I cried to turn the dog over). I called the police told them if anyone was looking for a dog it was at that shelter. I found out days later who it belonged to, they kept the dog outside day and nite, never paid attention to it. I decided the dog had a better shot at the shelter than back at it's house. where it could get loose and hit by car. I pray he did get adopted, I'll never know. > >About three weeks ago this nice little tom started visiting us. We > >have two indoor cats and they were pretty agitated. [quoted text clipped - 60 lines] > > Ginger-lyn >Bottom line, what do you feel is the right thing to do for the cat? I feel that perhaps that should be truned around: people can't 'own' cats - they may think they do, but ultimately it's the cat that decides where to live and with whom. If a cat choses to live with me, I keep it unless approached by someone claiming the cat, then I let the cat choose. All my cats are free to come and go as they please, and some have chosen not to live with me - I gave up trying to force them to stay long ago. T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu) SPAM filter: Messages to this address *must* contain "T.E.D." somewhere in the body or they will be automatically rejected. (snip) > And as you said, you > wouldn't want to break a little kids' heart. Give me a break! Cats aren't children's toys and children don't have the knowledge or the means to properly care for animals. Parents are responsible for children's pets and, if this cat is the poster cat, the parents were negligent in searching for the cat and in failing to neuter and treat its earmites. There is no reason to believe they will behave differently next time, if the cat is returned to them. Let them buy their kid a plastic action figure and let the cat remain with responsible caregivers. >Give me a break! Cats aren't children's toys Actually.... they are. Other than costing additional money for health, food, and cleanliness, they really serve no other purpose. The twit Electric Nachos" buenos.dias@mother.f.cker continues to troll and waste more time. Pity this loathsome scum for the sociopath that society is unable to help. Trolling in cat newsgroups is just one avenue used to relieve the tension of pretending to be human. Whether this creature is medicated or confined in anyone's guess. What is the legal time that a stray has to be held at the local animal control agency before it can be adopted? Generally, the law will find that if you made a good faith effort to find the owner within that period and notified animal control and other humane agencies, then that animal can be considered unowned and can be adopted by you. YOu now have spent money on this animal and it is listed in your name at a vet which also provides provenance of ownership should any legal issues arise. The tricky part is if a previous owner actually did spend money on vet care or an adoption fee for the animal and it scooted out the door shortly thereafter and then wandered for a while before he found you. If that's the case, then he need to reimburse you for your expenses for his animal before it's returned. I personally would go take a look at the poster just for my own peace of mind. If for whatever reason the dates were right and the animal looked right, I would give the number a call. BLOCK CALLER ID! *67 I think. If, after you've asked a few pointed questions (like why was this cat in horrible shape and unneutered) you determine that this WAS their cat, then I would have no qualms about keeping him if his absence wasn't just a freak accident. I would also attempt to educate the owners on cat ownership and care-- for the subsequent cat that they are sure to adopt. You only hope you reach them. That's why I suggest blocking the caller ID. If it turns out to be their cat, and they are a.sholes, you don't want them having your phone number. You have no idea what a pissed off idiot with your phone number and too much time can do, and making police reports is a hassle. |
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