Local Woman Seeking Humanitarian Solution for Feral Cat Dilemma

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published October 9, 2016 4:45 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – One local woman’s efforts to control the feral cat population is not being received warmly by everyone.

Alana Hoffmeier, founder of HEART, Humanitarian Efforts for Animal Rescue & Treatment, has a colony of stray cats and kittens and is looking for adopters and fosters.

Hoffmeier describes the cats and kittens as socialized and friendly.

“They currently reside within an abandoned garage in Clarion Borough,” Hoffmeier said. “There were 40, there is now less than 10. I’ve been caring for them since February with the hopes of addressing the overpopulation by trapping, neutering, and spaying and returning them (Trap-Neuter-Return program).”

“Unfortunately my ‘Return’ program has now turned into a ‘Relocation’ program.”

“My goal is to spay and neuter, vaccinate, microchip, and — if needed — ear tip all orphaned strays in Clarion Borough. Releasing them is the most humane and effective methodology for feral cat populations, and relocation often ends in death.”

Hoffmeier said someone has retaliated against her program by removing the cats’ food and water dishes.

“The food and water were then intentionally replaced with anti-freeze. I have found the poisoned bodies of most of the cats and kittens. Those that are MIA have admittedly been trapped…and dropped off into the countryside.”

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This action is illegal under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5511, Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Laws.

“It’s a mess, and there’s nothing that the police or animal welfare can do about it – as of yet. The stray colony population has dropped from 18 to 10 within the past two weeks. I have not found any bodies, so I assume that they are being trapped and dumped into the countryside.”

This action is also illegal under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5511, Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Laws.

Hoffmeier says several individuals have approached her and are all very, very upset with her.

“They want to know why I keep insisting on feeding the cats and feel that if I stopped feeding them the cats would go away and that the problem would be resolved.”

This colony is Hoffmeier’s starting point for a grass roots effort to “stop the suffering” by acting locally and thinking globally.

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Grounded in science, TNR stops the breeding cycle of cats and therefore improves their lives while preventing reproduction. It is a fact that the removal and killing of outdoor cats that animal control has been pursuing for decades is never ending and futile, according to alleycat.org.

“Incidentally, I have permission from the property owner to progress with my trap, neuter, and release program.”

Hoffmeier said the Clarion Police were also notified prior to her starting the TNR program and are also aware that the program is currently still active.

“I have followed all protocol and laws, according to Clarion Borough Police. Additionally, since I do have permission to be there, the taking of the food and water bowls is obviously — theft and trespassing.”

Boroughs seemingly everywhere have feral cat problems.

In Strattanville, Borough Secretary Roxanne Davis said when residents came to council about feral cats, and they asked the Clarion PAWS for assistance.

Located in Shippenville, the Pet Adoption and Welfare Society has implemented programs such as trap-neuter-return (TNR), low cost spay-neuter for cats, foster families for displaced animals while they wait for a new home, and educational programs for school children and interested adults.

“They came in and gave a presentation, and we copied literature to hand out to people,” Davis said. “We even had feral cats here on the borough property, and we called PAWS to come and get them. They said they were full, but they did end up coming and getting them.”

“Ultimately, this is a people problem. Too many people won’t take care of the cats, won’t get them fixed, and it becomes a larger problem.”

“The TNR program doesn’t truly fix the problem because the cats are returned to the area they were in. We had one family that could hardly be outside because the kids couldn’t be in the playset because the cats were using it as a litter box, and they couldn’t eat outside at the picnic table because the urine smell was so overwhelming,” Davis said.

Davis also said there have been a few Strattanville residents that were bitten or scratched by cats and had to deal with infections, missed work because of the treatments they had to receive.

In New Bethlehem, the feral cat problem was in the news recently when apparently some council members jokingly suggested lethal means of dealing with strays.

Borough Secretary Rich McGarry said they have had great success in working with Just Us For the Animals, a group based in Punxsutawney.

“They came and have trapped a lot of cats and they are continuing to do so,” McGarry said.

When Hoffmeier began her efforts, she hoped for a positive, community-based animal welfare service.

“I had also hoped for community support,” Hoffmeier said “A few community members have reached out to me — Carmen Hernandez Duncan and Marcia Hoffmeier have given me tremendous help and support. Initially, I wanted to adopt out the cats for a small nominal fee, however now I just want them to be safe.”

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“My non-profit HEART has not yet been cleared via the IRS, and I am doing all of this out of pocket, and through the generosity of supportive donors.” Hoffmeier said. “I am offering all cats and kittens from this location to be spayed or neutered, completely vaccinated, microchipped, and ear-tipped (if cats will be living outside in the warm barn) in coordination through the Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic, in Woodfield, and PAWS, in Shippenville.

Josie, of PAWS, provided Hoffmeier with the have-a heart traps that are being used in the TNR program. Although the PAWS facility would like to help Hoffmeier, they are running at full capacity.

Harold Walstom, of the Allegheny Welfare Council, in association with the Allegheny Spay and Neuter Clinic, has also aided Hoffmeier. Walstom currently is in charge of Allegheny’s Neuter Scooter program, and he will be working closely with Hoffmeier in the future to address the overpopulation issues.

Hoffmeier was approved to work/volunteer at the Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic six days a month. She will be personally picking up and transporting the cats/dogs to be spayed to the clinic. She will be assisting with their surgeries and will transport them back to their homes or humans. This service is strictly provided through HEART (currently out-of-pocket), and Hoffmeier is not receiving any additional funding for this program.

Hoffmeier said her goal is to successfully relocate the stray colony into safe homes or barns.

“However,  HEART seeks to create a community outreach grassroots movement for Clarion County and surrounding areas….to work with individuals who care for, or have multiple unspayed or unneutered cats and dogs on their property.”

“My ultimate goal is to spay or neuter, trap, and return these animals so that they can live out their lives while humanely addressing the overpopulation issue.”

“I trying to work with them to provide the “neuter scooter” to drive to homes, barns, trailer parks, whatever, to pick up the cats, kittens, dogs, etc. They will be spayed and neutered and safely returned post-anesthesia.”

“This is my ultimate goal…to stop the suffering.”

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