SNOW HILL – Though a national campaign to save the life of a feral cat trapped as part of a rabies investigation failed, its effects continue to be felt in Worcester County.
The Worcester County Health Department gave a formal report to the Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday after elected officials received thousands of emails asking them to save the life of Oliver, a cat trapped in West Ocean City. The cat was euthanized July 13. Since then, a Worcester County Animal Control officer has been assaulted and the agency continues to receive threats.
“It has been a very difficult time,” said Sue Rantz, the county’s chief animal control officer. “We have had people calling, voice messages have been left. They’ve threatened our lives, our homes … We have been condemned for everything we have done.”
Last week, the national group Alley Cat Allies launched a campaign to save the life of Oliver, a cat captured by animal control at Ocean Village, a townhouse community in West Ocean City. Oliver was trapped and removed from the community after a cat from the same colony tested positive for rabies in June.
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7 comments:
The humane society are liars. They could have done a titers test to see how much of the rabies vaccinations was still in the cats system. If he had been vaccinated for YEARS the titers would have registered a sufficient amount of protection still in his system, even if he was a few months behind on his shots.
Excuses excuses excuses.
10:51 what you say is not accurate. A titer *only* measures antibodies, not cell-mediated immunity, which is the *only* measure of protection. Just for the record I have nothing to do with this and it's the first time I've heard of this situation. I am only setting the record straight to avoid more unnecessary controversy.
Dave T: Last time I checked with animal control, I was told feral cats are a major problem in Worcester County and the problem has reached epidemic levels. Has anyone considered how much damage non indigenous species do to native species, particularly birds? I can tell you without a doubt, feral cats are nothing but trouble and they often also prey on people's livestock. Particularly small scale chicken coops. Sounds to me like an enormous waste of time and resources. If you can't keep and take care of a pet, don't have one!
Why do people think the answer to things is killing.Look around us people human or animal a life is a life .Rip Oliver
WE have feral humans running around acting stupid. What can we do about them?
Cat Lives Matter !
Had a succession of adopted cats across the years; not fancy breeds just nice pets; all kept strictly indoors.
But feral cats are a problem, wherever they may be, for a variety of reasons. The article says a rabid cat was found in the same group this cat hung with. From a public health standpoint that should doom the entire group.
Cats in the wild lead short, rough lives. When we put food out, etc. it just adds to the problem.
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