trickblue
Not Old School...Old Testament...
- Messages
- 31,439
- Reaction score
- 3,961
Cat... the other white meat...
Hunter Wants Open Season On Domestic Cats
MADISON, Wis. -- The fur is going to fly when cat lovers hear about Mark Smith's idea.
The Wisconsin hunter and firefighter wants stray cats classified as an "unprotected species" that could be shot by anyone with a small-game license.
Smith welcomes wild birds onto his property, but if he sees a cat, he thinks the "invasive" animal should be considered fair game.
The 48-year-old firefighter from La Crosse, Wis., has proposed that hunters in Wisconsin make free-roaming domestic cats an "unprotected species" that could be shot at will by anyone with a small-game license.
Hunters will vote on the proposal on April 11 during hearings for the Wisconsin Conservation Congress across the state. The congress advises state officials on natural resource issues.
Smith said free-roaming cats are an invasive species that attack wild birds.
Smith's proposal has horrified cat lovers.
Ted O'Donnell is horrified. He's the owner of a pet supply store and has set up a Web site to fight the idea -- don't shoot the cat.com.
Department of Natural Resources attorney Tim Andryk said the vote would simply be an advisory recommendation to state lawmakers. He said that to have open season on roaming cats, laws that relate to abuse of domestic animals may have to be amended.
"I would hate to think that tame, owned cats who happen to slip out would be at risk of being deemed a wild, unprotected species," said Sheri Carr, senior humane officer at the Dane County Humane Society. "It's a delicate (ecological) balance out there, but does that mean people should be able to shoot their neighbor's cat? Probably not."
Carr thinks pet owners should not let their animals roam.
MADISON, Wis. -- The fur is going to fly when cat lovers hear about Mark Smith's idea.
The Wisconsin hunter and firefighter wants stray cats classified as an "unprotected species" that could be shot by anyone with a small-game license.
Smith welcomes wild birds onto his property, but if he sees a cat, he thinks the "invasive" animal should be considered fair game.
The 48-year-old firefighter from La Crosse, Wis., has proposed that hunters in Wisconsin make free-roaming domestic cats an "unprotected species" that could be shot at will by anyone with a small-game license.
Hunters will vote on the proposal on April 11 during hearings for the Wisconsin Conservation Congress across the state. The congress advises state officials on natural resource issues.
Smith said free-roaming cats are an invasive species that attack wild birds.
Smith's proposal has horrified cat lovers.
Ted O'Donnell is horrified. He's the owner of a pet supply store and has set up a Web site to fight the idea -- don't shoot the cat.com.
Department of Natural Resources attorney Tim Andryk said the vote would simply be an advisory recommendation to state lawmakers. He said that to have open season on roaming cats, laws that relate to abuse of domestic animals may have to be amended.
"I would hate to think that tame, owned cats who happen to slip out would be at risk of being deemed a wild, unprotected species," said Sheri Carr, senior humane officer at the Dane County Humane Society. "It's a delicate (ecological) balance out there, but does that mean people should be able to shoot their neighbor's cat? Probably not."
Carr thinks pet owners should not let their animals roam.
