Letter to Save the Cats in Wisconsin

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

Mr. Hassett,

I am writing about the current situation in Wisconsin wherein Mr. Mark Smith has proposed a law making it legal for hunters with small game licenses to shoot cats. He has said "It gives people leeway if they want to remove cats."

I have several problems with this proposal. First...aside from it being absolutely ridiculous and unethical, it's also dangerous. If these hunters were to begin firing upon cats in neighborhoods, it would offer the same problems as stray gunfire from gang shootings.

More to the point, they are requesting that this be done and cats termed as a huntable species. two problems. Hunters who shoot small game do so for one of 2 reasons, for food, or to display a trophy. I seriously doubt any hunter plans on eating a cat. I also seriously doubt we would start seeing cat's heads on hunters' walls as a trophy. The whole proposal is absolutely wrong, on all levels. He is not proposing hunting. He is proposing feline extermination, because he doesn't like them.

It also raises other questions, such as, will dogs eventually be a huntable species? How about birds? Should the family Macaw be target practice for the neighborhood hunters? Should a basset hound be a bullseye? Should a terrier be a target? If you are planning on making hunting legal in neighborhoods, are we going to see hunters blowing away squirrels in their yards in front of groups of children playing?

Hunting domesticated animals is not only wrong, it is disgusting. There is no way at all that anyone should ever be granted a license to kill a cat, or a dog, or anything else traditionally thought of as a pet. It is disturbing, and frankly the fact it has gotten to the point where a vote is being taken is repulsive. This should have been laughed out of existence before it was ever even reported on. Millions of people should not now have to be writing these letters. The fact that we must is a sign of how out of control certain societal aspects have become.

In closing, may I say, this is not only inhumane, it is inhuman. Mr. Smith is a firefighter, who should be protecting life, not going out to shoot it because he doesn't like it. you should be aware that the uproar this has caused is unbelievable. i can only say, I am outraged, and as a registered Wisconsin voter, I do have a say in what happens here. Especially at election time, when those who support this action wish to have my vote. So keep in mind. there are many who do NOT agree with this proposal. I thank you for your time in reading this, and hope that my voice has been heard and will be considered.

Sincerely,

Mark Schwenk

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

DNR
Mr. Paul ScotHassett, Secretary
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
101 S. Webster Street
AD/5
Madison, WI 53703