Cats Are Family, Not Small Game!

This letter was written and mailed to both the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin, as a plea to dismiss a proposal to allow the hunting of domesticated cats. Please see the information provided after the letter and join me in voicing your opinion and protecting our pets!


Dear Mr. Paul Scott Hassett, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,

It is a sad, sad day when I have to sit down and write a letter asking the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources not to allow the hunting of domesticated cats.

This letter is regarding an idea proposed by a Mr. Mark Smith in Madison, Wisconsin. This murderous man is proposing that hunters in Wisconsin classify free-roaming domestic cats (those without collars) as "unprotected species", which would enable hunters with a small game license to shoot any and all cats seen outside at will. He states that "free-roaming cats are an invasive species that attack wild birds". (1)

Using that ironic logic, this hunter should really turn the gun on himself.

Most indoor cats do not wear collars, as the collar can easily catch on household furniture and hurt the cat wearing it. If one of these collarless pets unknowingly slips outside, is that reason to allow a strange man to shoot it merely for the fact that the pet is not wearing a collar? I have seven indoor cats, all of whom do not wear collars. I do not ever let them out in the neighborhood, but I would be terrified if one accidentally got outside and I knew my neighbor had the right to kill it for no reason! That is just unreal to me.

What if the cat is wearing a collar and roaming outside? According to the proposal, the hunter would not be allowed to kill the cat, but who is to say that these murderers will not simply shoot the cat, then remove and discard its collar?

What kind of a society would this be if hunters are out on weekends killing our beloved pets because the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources gave them that right to do so?

Mr. Smith's "concern" for wild birds is simply a front for his thirst to kill even more innocent animals. Please do not give in to such a ludicrous proposal. Our society views cats and dogs as family, not small game to be hunted at will. It sickens me that this is even a topic up for discussion, but I have faith that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will NOT pass this proposal.

Sincerely,
My Real Name*
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
[e-mail]

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL!

Please, please write a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and ask them to dismiss this proposal. Cats can not speak for themselves... we MUST do it for them. If no one actively speaks up, then there is no one to be heard and this proposal has a chance to be passed.

Please join me in writing a polite letter to the secretary of the DNR expressing your concern that such a reclassification would result in the unnecessary suffering and painful deaths of countless cats. Please make it clear that it is unconscionable.

Send all letters to:

Mr. Paul Scott Hassett
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
101 S. Webster Street
AD/5
Madison, Wisconsin
53703

Governor Jim Doyle
Office of the Governor
115 East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
608-266-1212
608-267-8983 (FAX)

1. Quotes taken from: http://www.wftv.com/family/4258907/detail.html

The exact proposal is listed as Question #62 of the Wisconsin Conservative Advisory Questions, to be addressed on April 11, 2005: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/nrboard/congress/sh/cca/index.htm

Please visit and support: http://www.dontshootthecat.com/
Pay particular attention to their FAQ: http://www.dontshootthecat.com/faq.htm
In this section, it explains how even if a cat is not shot by a gun, some areas would allow a person to trap the cat, then DROWN it.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL!

* Letter also signed by:


Ben


Simon


Eli


Eddie


Jezebel


Max


Stevie


PLEASE TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL!

If you write a letter to the WDNR, please also post it in your portfolio and send me the item ID#; I will add a link to your item here:

947847

Stop the Cat Hunters!  [13+] Please help us stop the hunting of domesticated cats! By: catwoman loves Jack & baby

947890

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

947940

My Letter to Wisc NR Dept Re Feral Cats  [13+] Please help save the cats in Wisconsin By: Darkin Stormy Night

947869

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948119

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948136

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948269

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948273

Cats Are Not Small Game  [ASR] Copy of letters sent to officials in Wisconsin By: Vivian Zabel

948313

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948378

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948050

Don't shoot the cats  [13+] My letter in protest of the man who wants to kill stray cats. By: Elizabeth

948366

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

948464

Domestice Cats = Family Friends  [E] Protest Letter -Save the domestic felines of Wisconsin... By: Shea

948496

My letter to Wisc. NR Dept.-on cat hunting  [18+] Letter in response to Wisconsin's proposed legislation By: Octobers Lie

948502

Stop the Insanity  [13+] My letter to Wisconsin. By: Lady Stars

948513

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

948535

Hunting Cats? No!  [13+] My letter to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. By: Kittiara ~ 5 Years on W.Com!

948554

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

948615

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948660

Don't Punish The Cat!  [E] Letter to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. By: Laurencia

948675

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948419

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948845

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

948847

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948882

For the Love of Cats  [E] Save our family pets By: Jean Stone Hodges

948954

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

949074

On the Shooting of Cats  [ASR] A letter to the Wisconsin DNR about it's proposed Feral Cat bill. By: Colin Back on the Ghost Roads

949236

Letter to Save the Cats in Wisconsin  [13+] My letter to the Wisconsin DNR By: The Doctor

949249

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

949325

They Want To Shoot our Beloved Felines  [E] Please help to dismiss the proposal to hunt domesticated cats. By: Dottie

949645

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

950255

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

950625

The Cat is Not the Problem  [13+] Why allowing a domesticated animal to be hunted is a catastrophe waiting to happen. By: ~j

950442

A Collarless Cat Named Callie  [13+] You want to do what to our pets? By: UY...

950456

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

951212

Invalid Item  [] By: A Guest Visitor

950695

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953055

A Cat-astrophic Proposal  [13+] My letter to the Wisconsin DNR and Governor about Mark Smith's cat hunting proposal. By: Davy Kraken

Also, if you would like to forward this letter to your animal-loving friends and family, it is open to the public. Please send this link along with your explanation of why we need to protest this:
http://www.Writing.Com/main/view_item/item_id/947773?rfrid=storymistress

There is also a petition online: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/797408228
(Even if you decide to sign the petition, please still write your own letter and mail it. Many, many letters of protest showing up on a desk in Wisconsin is more effective than one single pack of signatures. I still encourage you to write your own letter.)

Thank you so much for your help!