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Watch out for your pets!Posted Monday, July 14, 2008, at 10:41 AM
I recently received an e-mail from a friend who lives near the DePauw campus whose cat has disappeared along with a number of the neighbor's cats.
Several of these animals were feral cats who were taken in by residents who fed and cared for them. I'm sure some people will just think, "good riddance." But, several of those cats were loved by small children and were being taken care of including my friends' cat. Apparently, 17 years ago, cats around the campus also began disappearing and it was discovered that someone was taking the animals and selling them to research laboratories. The person e-mailing me was worried that this might again be occurring. It is illegal to sell stolen cats or dogs to laboratories thanks to the Pet Protection and Safety Act of 1998, however, that doesn't mean it can't still happen. One way that labs get animals is through one of 40 "random source" animal dealers who operate throughout the county. These are USDA licensed Class B dealers who provide animals for research. Some of these dealers acquire their animals from people who resort to theft and deception as they collect animals. This includes posing as someone interested in adopting a dog or cat that responds to an advertisement such as "free pet to loving home." And many of these animals are picked up off the street and out of people's yards when no one is watching. I'm not saying this is what is going on in Greencastle but it's possible that animals are being picked up and sold to "Class B dealers." Be watchful in your area and if you see something suspicious call the police and report it. If you have to give up a pet, make sure the person taking it is legit and will truly provide a good home for it. Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
Maribeth Ward began working for a community newspaper right out of college. Within a few years she moved to marketing and spent most of her working life as a marketing manager. In 2006 she came back to her first love--writing.
She attended Indiana University and is the mother of three--identical twin daughters and a son. She is also the Nana of three wonderful grandchildren--Matt, Riley and Emma.
She and her husband Faril share their home with their cat Sunny and dog Roadie.
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This is how Jeffrey Dommer got his start and went worse. Folk, If you have pets treat them as such be friendly, playful, feed them and love on them.
They give so much more. Understanding, love, respect,protection and they are the best listeners
when you just feel you need to speak to someone.
Now that the animal shelter will not accept anymore animals, see if the number of cats / dogs , that are coming up missing drops to a low number. Yes, there is a problem with evil brats in Greencastle, but you also have people who think if the animal isn't inside the house at all times you don't deserve it.
Also, at one time there was a stray cat problem at Depauw because of the dumpsters.
Unfortunately I don't think the cats are disappearing because of research. There are some little evil kids running around killing them! I took in a stray cat that a neighbor threw out, quit feeding it, then moved leaving this poor defenseless animal to fend for itself. She is an outdoor cat and I am not going to bring her in my home but I will feed her and water her and play with her. Not too long after she started hanging at our house I discovered she was pregnant. No biggie, I will take care of the kittens untill they are old enough and then find them a good home. Once she had them, 2(1 gray and 1 black) she finally started to feel comfortable enough to bring them up to the house, the grey one was very friendly and after about a week it disappeared. I thought as cute and friendly as it was a neighbor probably took it for an indoor cat. A few days later I find it beaten to death by the community center. The other kitten, the black one, now walks with a limp and will probably be this way for life, if he is lucky enough to live very long because these evil bratts got ahold of him too but he was fortunate enough to get away. I would like to catch these freaking little bratts, luckily my daughter was not home when I found that beaten kitten, it would have broke her little heart. If anyone sees any kids tormenting animals please tell there parents or turn them in, this has got to stop. We still have 3 cats and I would like to keep it that way!