I admit it--I feed the neighborhood strays. Do you?
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
United States
March 17, 2008 7:25am CST
When I moved back here to Ohio, I was dismayed at all the stray cats running around. There was even the occasional stray dog, looking tired and thin. So I started leaving out food, thinking I would eventually have a huge pet food bill cos they'd tell their friends.
I figure if the animals look healthy and are socialized a bit--I can sometimes talk with them and pet some of them--someone will take them in. I did, in fact, have a neighbor that now has one of my former strays living with her family so I feel I've done some good. I even have a little kittie hotel on my porch, a sturdy box with a blanket in it. During the cold weather, I've had a few tenants.
Do you have lots of strays? Do you feed them?
2 people like this
5 responses
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I wish I could do that! I love cats, but I'm so allergic to them that my trachea closes up and I end up in the hospital. I can pet them briefly if I wash my hands right after and don't get them near my face.
Your wife sounds like a wonderful person.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
17 Mar 08
Where I live now, there are no strays and everyone takes real good care of their animals, but where I used to live (which is just about half a mile up the road, but could be a different planet for the state of it) no one cares about their pets, mainly cats. They all would have the cats which would then have kittens and then you would see skinny, flea ridden cats roaming all over the place. So I would put plates of food out for them every night, the cats would eat it but they would have a battle on their hands to beat the hedgehogs! I discovered one night by accident that the food was also being eaten by 2 huge hedgehogs, I have never seen hedgehogs that big. But a few times I had to phone animal welfare to get the cats because they were that neglected they had sores on them, it was not very nice to see, but I tried to help them as much as I could.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Ha! As soon as I saw "hedgehog" I checked where you lived. Funny how as we hang out on boards like this, we learn enough about other countries to guess where a person lives.
I'm in the states. For some reason, people won't spay or neuter their cats and dogs. The prevailing reason here where I live has always been that it's "unnatural". Well, I think it's unnatural for a poor animal to be homeless and hungry! If I could, I'd catch these kitties and have them sterilized but most of them are too wild and run when they see a human.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
17 Mar 08
I always forget to say where I am from, the area where I lived before no one would have theirs done either, yet the animal welfare used to offer them to get it done for reduced amounts, I had both my cats done for about £10.00 which I do not know what that is in dollars sorry. But compared to full price that is a really good deal, yet no one would have them done.
@oneinchsidehop (39)
• United States
22 Mar 08
I thought I did, and I was pretty darn ticked about it!
I thought the cat's were getting into our garbage (on the 3rd floor) and spreading it all over the place, it was raining down on the second and first floor porches. I even sat there waiting for them, armed to the teeth. I had a Super Soaker, and Air Horn, and water balloons. I was ready for WAR, NO cat was going to wreck my neighbor hood.
As I waited, at about 3:30am, I heard a rustle. My cats ran to the window, and I was ready, I snuck out, locked and loaded to do soggy, violent things to that mischievous stray... as I closed the door behind me, the beast noticed and turned away and raised it's tail... it was then that I noticed the peal white stripes on its ebony body.
Be nice to the strays, they have powerful friends, just trust me on this one.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
22 Mar 08
Funny how a little critter like that scare the crap out of us! The most powerful weapons are those of revulsion. 
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I'm so glad you're helping them out, they can't help it that irresponsible people won't spay and neuter. I feel so sorry for the poor things. Thanks for lessening their misery!
@98765m (1017)
• India
17 Apr 08
Hats off to you for feeding the stray cats and dogs.
One who shows love and affection even for stray cats and dogs is the true animal lover.
I still don't know why some people ,who initially show love and affection initially,turn out the pets out of their house even for as simple as a trivial reason like it sheds hair or it barks in the night.
I could see the plight of these dogs in various programs which telecast the dog shelters.
Congratulations to you for finding a good home for the stray.
I do certainly feed the strays if they are too hungry or too thin.
In fact,one of my relatives adopted a stray which was living near her house.
Cheers ! Good day to you
Keep on the good work
I could see the plight of these dogs in various programs which telecast the dog shelters.
Congratulations to you for finding a good home for the stray.
I do certainly feed the strays if they are too hungry or too thin.
In fact,one of my relatives adopted a stray which was living near her house.
Cheers ! Good day to you
Keep on the good work@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Apr 08
Thank you for your encouragement!
I went out the other night with the food, I was a little late, and there was a kitty waiting on the sidewalk for dinner. I sat there on the porch, and the kitty tolerated me. After it finished, it sat about 3 feet away from me, afraid to come closer but wanting some company. I feel so badly for these poor animals who are hungry for both food and affection.
