Just make sure Randy Balzer isn't there

A reminder that this fundraiser happens tomorrow, July 12.

Great idea .... for the feral cats, that is. But why doesn't the township do something about the people who supposedly own the cats over in the Haverhill, Crestline, Edgeridge area whose numerous cats are just allowed to roam the neighborhood killing birds, leaving their disgusting feces and smell, leaving coughed up furballs and destroying other people's landscapes. These people just bring the cats home saying they are giving them a loving home yet they are out 24/7 12 months a year, including the frigid days of winter and sweltering days of summer. I live in this neighborhood and I am disgusted. I talked to one of the other neighbors last week who told me about this forum. We decided to put humane traps on OUR property. When these cats are caught they are going to be taken to a shelter. Every cat that comes onto my property that happens upon my HUMANE trap will be taken to the shelter as they have no collars or ID on them. I do not want to hurt them. I feel bad for them actually as they are not meant to be outside all the time.
One day, perhaps our township commissioners will do the right thing and there will be an ordinance in place making it illegal to let cats roam like this to ruin other people's property. These supposed owners might not care, but I do.
I am just sick and tired of having to constantly clean up after them.

JM, where do you get off saying that animal advocates care more for an animals life the humane life. I also own 2 cats and 2 dogs and my cats don't go outside unless they are going to the vets every year for a check up. My dogs are walked on leases and are licensed too with the County and Whitehall. For your information they won't be doing cats that belong to home owners. They will be doing feral cats that a humane can't get near, that is why they ask residents not to feed cats in the neighborhoods. Yes it is the irresponsible homeowner that decides they don't want their cat anymore so lets just dump it into some neighborhood and let others take care of the cat. These cats are the victims of ignorant people that instead of taking them to a shelter or finding a home for them just dump them on the street. I also agree with you that if your going to let your cat outside then put it on a lease instead of letting them run the neighborhood. When you fix all the feral cats, then they die out and won't be breeding. Have you tried going to a Township or Borough Meeting and taking them 500 signatures about having a lease and licensing law for cats, i'm sure if you did, then they would listen to what your saying. Euthanasia isn't going to solve the problem as more irresponsible people will do the same thing.

Hey Advocate4Animal ....... We happen to own a home in the township and have the same issue/problem with the family who has all the cats who are left to run 24/7 in the neighborhood. I agree with Joe about this problem. Joe is a good man who loves animals actually. Thank you for pointing out which shelter to take the cats to. Don't try to make the homeowners look like the bad guys by wanting the cat owners to be responsible for their pets. They are domestic animals that have no business being outside all the time. Why don't you condemn them before you condemn the homeowner whose property is becoming the cats' litterbox and place for dumping killed birds. Oh, yesterday I watched as one of these lovely cats killed a baby cardinal that fell out of a nest in my tree. Delightful. You care so much about these cats .... how about this .... come around the Crestline/Edgeridge/Haverhill neighborhoods and see all the cats that are out ALL the time. Then see what we have to deal with.

before cats became domestic animals they lived in the wild, ate off the land and killing animals and eating them is part of their nature. No one is condemning the homeowner. Not only does Baldwin Township have a cat problem but Whitehall, Baldwin, Castle Shannon, Mt Lebanon, West Mifflin, etc all have the same problems. It is when erresponsible people get pets and decide they don't want them so they dump them outside or get an animal and leave it run. They should have license and lease laws for all pets everywhere, but one person can't get it done. Take your neighbors and go up to the Township Building about having an ordinance passed for a lease and license law. They did it in Baldwin Borough. TRN is the best solution for feral cats, the ones that your neighbors own, you need to talk to them, or take them to the magistrate on the damage that their animals are doing to your property.

Weighing in on this issue ..... the cat problem is really getting out of control. And I don't mean the feral cats. There are a few homeowners in the Crestline and Haverhill neighborhoods who do leave their cats out all the time. I am one who also finds dead birds and baby bunnies and it is disgusting. The magistrates don't want to have to deal with what they will call petty issues between neighbors. The animal owners won't even be fined or punished. The magistrates have more important issues to deal with like all the DUIs, domestic problems, thefts, burglaries, etc. and even those crimes they don't give out fines or punishment so you think they want to hear about irresponsible people leaving their animals out to destroy others properties?

I agree that you get humane traps from the animal control people for the township or borough. Take the animal to the irresponsible homeowner (with the animal control person) and let them know that next time you catch the animal you are taking it to a HUMANE shelter because God forbid we take it to anything else.

Just to add to my comment

With all of the wild animals that could possibly be rabid such as racoons, why would anyone who cared or loved their pets let them run wild especially in the woods where they could encounter such animals. Not too long ago we actually saw a red fox twice in the Meridian and Haverhill Road area. (Meridian is in Mt. Lebanon).

Their animals could get into a tangle with a rabid animal and then what? And they care about their pets? They care only when someone else is bothered.

Predatory Behavior of Cats http://www.perfectpaws.com/help3.html

Understanding Your Cat's Predatory Behavior
Cats are born with a hunting and chasing instinct. But they are not necessarily born hunters that kill for food. Killing and eating prey are generally learned behaviors. Hunger will not automatically teach a cat to kill. A cat can be a skillful mouse killer and yet never eat a single mouse or even desire to eat one.

Kittens are programmed from birth to chase. Through play, they develop the coordination and timing needed to successfully capture their target. They learn to adjust their speed to the speed of moving objects. They learn to gauge distance by pouncing. Play gives the kitten a chance to learn to make judgments by experience.

The mother cat teaches her kittens to kill to eat. Her first lesson consists of bringing home dead prey and consuming it in front of the kittens. Soon they learn to join in. At the end of this stage, she brings the dead prey home and leaves it for the kittens to eat on their own. Cats will not only do this for their own litter, but for another cat's kittens as well. Many cats (especially spayed females) will provide this lesson to their human owners. Thus, bringing home dead prey and dropping it at our feet.

You can go and finish reading why cats do this as it is a long article.