HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 3BLate4 10/19/2009~'.+~
Marcelle E. Guy
9 Oakwood Drive, Petaluma, CA 94954
707-763-3790
October 15, 2009
This is in response>of Petaluma City Council meeting of October 5, 2009
To set the record straight, the. front page story about Petaluma feral cats by Corey Young. of the
Argus Courier dated October 10, 2009, was inaccurate.
City Council did not take the recommendations from our group (expert feral cat experts and
organizations) and they went ahead and voted for an ordinance designed to fail. After working
diligently on the feral cat issue for the past two years the response from this Council was very
disappointing for us all and mostly to the .disadvantage of Petaluma homeless and feral cats.
City Council members were swamped with letters of protest following this action.. My letter to
Council following:
October 8, 2009
To Mayor Pamela Torliatt and Members of Petaluma City Council;
There was a celebration of sort in Petaluma when we heard'that animal shelter manager resigned
several weeks ago. Finally; we had hopes for Petaluma animals -specially homeless and feral
cats.
After being turned down several times by this city, Jennifer Kirchner, Executive Director for
Forgotten Felines, was talked into getting involved again and she pleaded for Petaluma homeless
and feral cats one more time. Last Monday evening; October 5, 2009, this Council turned down
the help of Forgotten Felines again. We were-all so surprised. I gave each Council member a
video "Born Feral" about the work of Forgotten Felines. I was hoping you would look at it, but
it probably went in the recycling bin. It was your duty to educate yourself. I have done
everything humanely possible to save our homeless and feral eats. It was a waste of my time
with this Petaluma City Council -although the video is quite popular with the general
population. (I did this video especially for council members)
Something stinks at:Petaluma City Hall and it is not the cats. It is dirty politics and we need to
make- some drastic changes. We, the people of Petaluma, need to wake up and take charge of our
government. The .general ;population expects our animals treated fairly. Many of us worked so
hard toward these goals.
I am so heartbroken -and embarrassed to be a resident of Petaluma where river docents, dear
friends of Phis council, ;talk -about getting rid of everything that get in their way. What is left for
me to do is to work at replacing this council because I think Petaluma deserves better.
Last Monday I heard a Shollenberger docent complaining about the lack of visitors. What they
(docents) don't understand is that birdwatchers are disappointed after one visit. They go back
home and they tell their friends that what they read about Petaluma River and wetland was not
what they experienced. Average birdwatchers are like everyone else. They are not dumb people
and they don't want eats or white swans kilted. When the rest of the country hears that Petaluma
failed to protect animals again, tourists may stop by, but they won't be staying in Petaluma.
Added later:
I am asking this Council to rescind the ordinance Monday October 19, 2009. If you do not, I
ask that you refrain from voting on the feral .cat issue if you belong to any of these organization:
Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, Friends of'Petaluma River and Madrone Audubon Society.
Thank you.
Anyone wanting to learn more about the work of Forgotten Felines and TNR program can get. the
documentary on DVD "Born Feral" by calling Forgotten felines (576-7999) or Petaluma
Community Access Television 773-3 L90..Once you see this documentary, you will want to help
into reducing the population of homeless and feral cats in Petaluma.rather than to trap and kill.
And this video will show you how to do that. Please, do see it.
Ivlarcelle E. Guy