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San Luis Obispo County Animal Services recently announced that it would no longer accept lost or homeless cats. This is an inhumane and dangerous policy that will leave vulnerable domestic animals on the streets to suffer and die from untreated illnesses or injuries, reproduce and create even more homeless cats, and even be killed in cruel ways by humans who perceive them to be a nuisance. Please ask county supervisors to intervene and require that the shelter fulfill its purpose and vital role as a safe haven for any and all animals who have no one to care for them and nowhere else to go.
Homeless cats aren’t super-felines who can withstand the daily hazards of life on the street. They can be attacked and killed by dogs, hit by cars, or succumb to exposure, starvation, parasite infestations, deadly contagious diseases, infected wounds, ruptured abscesses, and more. All cats are domesticated animals who rely on humans for their every need, including for food, water, shelter, and veterinary care. Most homeless cats barely eke out an existence in drainage ditches, in parking lots, under buildings, and in woods and fields before dying in painful, even violent ways. They often don’t live longer than two to five years. One study found that 75% of homeless kittens didn’t even survive six months. Trauma was the leading cause of death.
Additionally, turning away even one unsterilized cat from a shelter can result in the births of thousands more unwanted and homeless animals. Please send an e-mail urging county supervisors to prevent the suffering of homeless cats and ensure that the county doesn’t contribute to the homeless-animal crisis.