Fwd: [AnimalAdvocacy] Navy Implementing Lethal Operation against Feral Cats

[Guest guest]

I live in Jacksonville and am appalled by the below alert! I am

disgusted that NAS would take lethal action against these cats when help

has been offered, killing them is not an acceptable solution. *Please*

spread the word and send an email, fax or make a phone call on behalf of

these kitties. Thank you.

 

Kristina

 

-----

 

" In the long run it is the cumulative effect that matters. One can do

much. And one and one and one and one can move mountains. "

~ Joan Ward-Harris

 

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Naval Air Station Implementing Lethal Operation against Feral Cats

 

Urgent! Action Alert from Alley Cat Allies

 

April 23, 2001

 

Your letters and emails are needed to…

 

Stop Naval Air Station's Lethal Operation

Base Employee Forcibly Removed so Killing of Cat and Kittens Can Continue

 

Washington, DC – April 23, 2001 – On April 18th, at the order of Commanding

Officer, Captain Stephen A. Turcotte, Ms. Virginia Grogoza was forcibly

removed from her place of employment at NAS-Jacksonville for feeding

outdoor cats and kittens. NAS-Jacksonville is trying to rid their base of

stray and feral cats by withholding food and hiring a contractor to trap the

cats. The animals will be relinquished to the local animal control agency.

 

Base commander Captain Turcotte has approved the lethal operation despite

repeated offers from Alley Cat Allies, base employees, and local activists

to help implement trap-neuter-return (TNR), a nonlethal, effective alternative

to trapping and killing. Operation Catnip, a spay/neuter clinic for feral cats,

has offered to supply free veterinary care. Time is of the essence because

mother cats are currently nursing their babies.

 

NAS-Jacksonville maintains that, " many of the cats taken to animal control

are adopted. " However, of the 17,000 dogs and cats that enter the Jacksonville

animal control facility each year, only 1,500 exit alive. Animal control states

that the majority of animals euthanized are cats, many of whom, like the NAS

cats, are too " wild " for adoption.

 

Your faxes, emails, and phone calls are needed to stop the killing.

 

Please ask Captain Turcotte of NAS-Jacksonville and Commander, Navy Region

Southeast, Rear Admiral Gaudio, to stop the killing of cats on base and

adopt trap-neuter-return (TNR) to control the population.

 

How You Can Help:

 

Please contact and urge Mr. Turcotte and Mr. Gaudio to:

· Stop the trapping and killing of the NAS cats immediately

· Allow volunteers to implement a nonlethal TNR program

 

Commanding Officer

Capt. Stephen A. Turcotte

Box 102, Bldg 1

NAS Jacksonville, FL 32212-0102

Tel: 904.542.2334

Fax: 904.542.2831

turcottest

 

Rear Admiral Jan C. Gaudio

Commander Navy Region Southeast

Building 1

NAS Jacksonville, FL 32212-0102

Tel: 904.542.2324

Fax: 904.542.2413

doughertyb

 

 

Commanding Officer Requests Help from Alley Cat Allies, then abruptly

decides in favor of trap, removal, and kill:

 

ACA has been in contact with personnel from NAS-Jacksonville since

February 22, 2001. On March 29, 2001, ACA was informed that Commanding Officer,

Captain Turcotte, was in favor of trap-neuter-return (TNR) to control the

stray and feral cat population and that he had instructed his staff to

implement the program on base. A campaign manager at ACA was assigned a

Point of Contact (POC) and discussions were underway to recruit volunteers

and raise funds. ACA was told by the Commanding Officer that a moratorium

had been placed on feeding bans and trap and kill schemes.

 

Then on April 9, 2001, Captain Turcotte issued a warning letter to Ms. Grogoza

directing her to cease feeding the cats and outlining the contract he issued for

trapping and killing the outdoor cats. Instructions were made to: " Modify

current contract or obtain additional contract services to include catching with

a catchpole and requirement for contractor personnel involved in animal control

to be properly vaccinated and certified with a dart gun. " Officials have failed

to take into account the fact that their actions will result in nursing kittens

starving when their mothers are removed.

 

Other military bases and municipalities are using TNR because it is more

effective than trapping and removing. " Captain Turcotte could be following

the lead of Norfolk Navy Shipyard that has a pilot TNR program in place, "

stated Becky Robinson, Alley Cat Allies' National Director. " TNR has

already been used on a small scale at NAS-Jacksonville and could easily be

implemented on the entire base. "

 

" Periodic efforts to round up and remove cats typically fail because other

cats migrate in to take advantage of the vacated food sources and shelter, "

said Dr. Julie Levy, who runs Operation Catnip, and who has offered her

groups services to NAS-Jacksonville free of charge.

 

Many base employees are eager and willing to begin a humane process to reduce

the feline population, but fear losing their jobs or being arrested.

If Ginny is found on military property during the next two weeks, she

could face a six-month prison term, a $500 fine, or both.

 

 

 

 

 

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