Wisconsin hunter wants open season on domestic cats - article and some contacts...
ESLaPorte
For one thing- I intend to not only contact my state reps, but I intend to
start mobilizing and contacting every member of the Standing Natural
Resourses' committee. Here is a list of name of committee members from the
Wisconsin Legislature website: Representatives Gunderson, chairperson,
Moulton, vice chairperson Representatives Ott, Pettis, Bies, Krawczyk, M.
Williams, Petrowski, Mursau, Black, Gronemus, Steinbrink, Van Akkeren,
Molepske and Hebl.
I will eventually provide the addresses and phone numbers that you can write
to show your outrage at the notion of legalizing the "hunting of housecats."
"Don't Shoot the Cat" - www.dontshootthecat.com - in...@dontshootthecat.com
For one thing, we need to know where this April 11th meeting is being
held...I will drive up from Milwaukee to attend!!!
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Wisconsin hunter wants open season on domestic cats
Last update: March 6, 2005 at 12:58 PM
Associated Press
March 6, 2005 CATS0307
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5276384.html
MADISON, Wis. - Hunter Mark Smith welcomes wild birds on to 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 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.
His proposal will be placed before hunters on April 11 at the Wisconsin
Conservation Congress spring hearings in each of the state's 72 counties.
"I get up in the morning and if there's new snow, there's cat tracks under
my bird feeder ... I look at them as an invasive species, plain and
simple,'' Smith said.
Smith's proposal has horrified cat lovers, but is seen by others as a way to
stop cats from killing wild birds.
University of Wisconsin-Madison wildlife ecology professor Stanley Temple,
who trapped more than 100 cats and analyzed their stomach contents during a
four-year study, has estimated that between 7.8 million and 219 million
birds are killed by rural cats in Wisconsin each year.
"It's obviously a very controversial proposal,'' Temple said, but added, "I
think there really is a basis for having a debate about it.''
The Conservation Congress is a five-member elected body whose duty is to
advise the Department of Natural Resources and the Legislature on natural
resources issues.
DNR attorney Tim Andryk said the vote would simply be "an advisory
recommendation'' to state lawmakers.
"We (the DNR) don't have authority to regulate domestic animals. Legislation
would have to be passed to accomplish this,'' Andryk said. "You might also
have to amend laws relating to abuse of domestic animals.''
But Temple said he thinks legislation is not needed. He said the department
does have the authority to declare rural cats an unprotected species -
because unclaimed cats can be considered non-native wildlife species like
house mice, Norway rats, pigeons and starlings.
"If they are not a pet, if somebody doesn't claim ownership, they become a
non-native wildlife species and not entitled to protection by the state,''
he said.
Cat enthusiasts Cheryl Balazs, Ted O'Donnell and Adam Bauknecht are trying
to organize opposition to Smith's proposal. O'Donnell, a co-owner of MadCat
Pet Supplies, recently set up a Web site, dontshootthecat.com, to inform
people about it.
O'Donnell said Smith's proposal "is a callous response'' to the problem of
cats preying on wild birds.
"There's more humane solutions,'' he said. "We as citizens should step up
and solve the problem humanely.''
Sheri Carr, senior humane officer at the Dane County Humane Society, said
the group has not yet taken a position on the proposal, but wants cat owners
to abide by their local ordinances and not let their animals roam.
"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,'' Carr said. "It's a
delicate (ecological) balance out there, but does that mean people should be
able to shoot their neighbor's cat? Probably not.''
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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal,
http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com
Dane County Humane Society - http://www.humanesociety.dane.wi.us/
Shelter Contacts - http://www.humanesociety.dane.wi.us/about/contacts.asp
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resourses - http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/
Wisconsin Conservation Congress - http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/congress/
Wisconsin State Legislature homepage- http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
MadCat Pet Supplies Cat store - www.madcatpets.com
Madison (WI) stores located at:
7820 Mineral Point Road
Madison, WI 53717 (608) 833-5800
Sat. 9-7pm, Sun 11-6 pm
and
1012 Williamson St.
(608) 255-4450
Hours. M-F 9-8pm
Sat. 9-6pm, Sun 11-6pm