• Killing cats is no solution • Be the change you want to see • Questions should be addressed Killing cats is no solution In her July 26 letter, PETA says that trap, neuter, release is not the answer to cat problems on
• Killing cats is no solution • Be the change you want to see • Questions should be addressed
Killing cats is no solution
In her July 26 letter, PETA says that trap, neuter, release is not the answer to cat problems on Kauai. As former campaigns director for Alley Cat Allies, I have heard this from them for at least a decade. The only humane and effective way of reducing feral cat populations is trap, neuter and return — not release. The reason you return them to the colony is to slow, and eventually stop, population growth in the feral cat colony. Trapping and killing and trapping and/or relocating increases the feral cat populations. When you return the cats to their colonies, caretakers can monitor their health, so many of the horrible list of ills PETA complains about befalling the cats will never actually occur.
The problem is the limited occupancy pound. KHS does no crisis intervention to help panicking people find solutions. They do not do TNR. They do not neuter on any significant scale. They do not do a better job at adoptions. Getting rid of them and putting in a competent caring contractor is the long-term solution. Round up and killing cats makes people feel good for a little while, but never works, and makes the problem worse.
Frank DeGiacomo
President, Animal Haven
Kaneohe
Be the change you want to see
Danitza Gatvan wrote in TGI (Aug. 13) complaining about volunteers in the Humane Society and The Arborist Advisory Committee.
To me, since she is so passionate about these subjects, she should become a volunteer. Both these bodies, I am quite sure, need volunteers. Become one and make the changes you want made.
Helena Cooney
Kapaa
Questions should be addressed
What an outstanding article Judith Fernandez wrote in TGI July 13, “There is more to consider on Hawaiian Kingdom.”
She asks so many key questions that need answers and I hope that our Kanaka Maoli friends can address them.
I guess one of the most relevant questions is what is it that the Native Hawaiians want? They say that they want their sovereignty but what exactly does that mean? We cannot turn back the clock 100 years but must deal with the here and now.
Do they want all non Hawaiians, including the state and federal governments, to give back all land, homes, buildings, markets, stores and hotels? Is that realistic even if the Hawaiian Nation feels that they were illegally overthrown 100 years ago?
As Ms Fernandez said, “I wish I heard details about how and why a Hawaiian Kingdom would function. When the American flag comes down and the Hawaiian flag raises, will there be any government at all planning in advance with careful thoughts and consideration of the complicated issues of creating and executing a new government?”
For all my Hawaiian friends, I and many others ask for answers to all the fine questions that Ms Fernandez asks.
My wife and I feel honored and grateful to have lived in this Hawaiian paradise for 25 years and hope we can remain here with the wonderful mixture of ethnic races that occupy Kauai until we are gone.
Glenn Mickens
Kapaa
