Image from page 84 of "Coast watch" (1979)
Title: Coast watch
Identifier: coastwatch00uncs_6
Authors: UNC Sea Grant College Program
Subjects: Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology
Publisher: [Raleigh, N. C. : UNC Sea Grant College Program]
Contributing Library: State Library of North Carolina
Digitizing Sponsor: North Carolina Digital Heritage Center
View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.
Text Appearing Before Image:
J r o m sound to sea Outer Banks Wild Cats Mary Willis' husband calls her the saint of Frisco. Debbie Martin is known as the cat lady of Avon. And Ocracoker Margaret Harris is best known by her 25 adopted "Ocracats." Though other feline fanciers dwell in these Outer Banks villages, these three women have a greater common bond — a soft spot for stray and wild cats and a commitment to curb their numbers through spaying and neutering. With collection jars placed in community motels and restaurants, each of these cat lovers has raised money to spay and neuter feral cats roaming Outer Banks back yards and back alleys. Martin's organiza- tion, Friends of Felines, has "fixed" more than 75 cats in its four years of existence; this year Avon's ferals are given rabies shots as well. Harris estimates she's spayed or neutered about 30 cats on the island since forming Ocracats in January. And Willis of CATS (Citi- zens Advocating Trapping and Sterilization) has fixed about 85 Hatteras strays, 60 of which were treated with money collected since April 1992. "I figure that's at least 500 or 600 kittens that aren't being born this time this year," says Willis, who patterned CATS after a national nonprofit organization called Alley Cat Allies (ACA). ACA advocates stabilizing the United States' estimated 60 million feral cats through sterilization. A feral cat is simply a domesticated cat that has gone wild or was bom in the wild. Willis says tourists have given generously to the cause and that some residents are more receptive to and tolerant of the sterilized ferals, especially the stray males, which before they were neutured "sprayed" urine on boats in a local marina. The caterwauling of many females in heat has also subsided. "After they were spayed and neutered, everyone's attitudes toward the cats changed," says Willis, adding
Text Appearing After Image:
that vaccinations for rabies, which is on the increase in some coastal areas, are provided now too. "They are keeping the rat population down. It has just made such a difference." Many of the cats are trapped and sterilized at the request of residents, who are often happy to feed the felines, but either can't or won't pay the fee for spaying and neutering or are unable to apprehend the strays. As time permits, Harris says she also tries to tame and place the animals in homes. Overpopulation of cats is a worldwide dilemma, but ferals pose a unique problem on North Carolina's barrier islands. The Outer Banks are cramped quarters for this prolific species; the spits of seashore are also host to many tourists and much transience. Cottage renters often leave or lose pets, and irresponsible cat owners find dense parkland and maritime forests an irresistable dump- ing ground for unwanted kitten litters. "People who abandon cats delude themselves into thinking the animal finds a nice home and is happy," says D.D. Shumway, a Hatteras veterinar- ian who offers reduced fees to CATS and Friends of Felines. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years. Given these numbers, the cat sterilization advocates are doing a service to the community. Willis says her activity has posi- tively influenced pet owners on the island to spay or neuter their companions; she distributes reduced sterilization certificates from Friends of Animals to sweeten the deal. But not everyone is raving about the efforts of Willis and the other advocates. The Outer Banks SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), which provides the area's animal control, frowns on the trap- sterilize-release programs. "We don't feel that is the humane solution," says President Gail Kowalski. "When we do collect a feral cat, that animal is euthanized as quickly as possible to lessen the chance of injury and minimize stress. "I think the important thing that a lot of people do forget is the ultimate welfare of the animal," she says. "Humans feel better in themselves spaying the animal and turning it loose." Continued COASTWATCH 21
Note About Images
Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original work.
Image from page 84 of "Coast watch" (1979)
Title: Coast watch
Identifier: coastwatch00uncs_6
Authors: UNC Sea Grant College Program
Subjects: Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology
Publisher: [Raleigh, N. C. : UNC Sea Grant College Program]
Contributing Library: State Library of North Carolina
Digitizing Sponsor: North Carolina Digital Heritage Center
View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.
Text Appearing Before Image:
J r o m sound to sea Outer Banks Wild Cats Mary Willis' husband calls her the saint of Frisco. Debbie Martin is known as the cat lady of Avon. And Ocracoker Margaret Harris is best known by her 25 adopted "Ocracats." Though other feline fanciers dwell in these Outer Banks villages, these three women have a greater common bond — a soft spot for stray and wild cats and a commitment to curb their numbers through spaying and neutering. With collection jars placed in community motels and restaurants, each of these cat lovers has raised money to spay and neuter feral cats roaming Outer Banks back yards and back alleys. Martin's organiza- tion, Friends of Felines, has "fixed" more than 75 cats in its four years of existence; this year Avon's ferals are given rabies shots as well. Harris estimates she's spayed or neutered about 30 cats on the island since forming Ocracats in January. And Willis of CATS (Citi- zens Advocating Trapping and Sterilization) has fixed about 85 Hatteras strays, 60 of which were treated with money collected since April 1992. "I figure that's at least 500 or 600 kittens that aren't being born this time this year," says Willis, who patterned CATS after a national nonprofit organization called Alley Cat Allies (ACA). ACA advocates stabilizing the United States' estimated 60 million feral cats through sterilization. A feral cat is simply a domesticated cat that has gone wild or was bom in the wild. Willis says tourists have given generously to the cause and that some residents are more receptive to and tolerant of the sterilized ferals, especially the stray males, which before they were neutured "sprayed" urine on boats in a local marina. The caterwauling of many females in heat has also subsided. "After they were spayed and neutered, everyone's attitudes toward the cats changed," says Willis, adding
Text Appearing After Image:
that vaccinations for rabies, which is on the increase in some coastal areas, are provided now too. "They are keeping the rat population down. It has just made such a difference." Many of the cats are trapped and sterilized at the request of residents, who are often happy to feed the felines, but either can't or won't pay the fee for spaying and neutering or are unable to apprehend the strays. As time permits, Harris says she also tries to tame and place the animals in homes. Overpopulation of cats is a worldwide dilemma, but ferals pose a unique problem on North Carolina's barrier islands. The Outer Banks are cramped quarters for this prolific species; the spits of seashore are also host to many tourists and much transience. Cottage renters often leave or lose pets, and irresponsible cat owners find dense parkland and maritime forests an irresistable dump- ing ground for unwanted kitten litters. "People who abandon cats delude themselves into thinking the animal finds a nice home and is happy," says D.D. Shumway, a Hatteras veterinar- ian who offers reduced fees to CATS and Friends of Felines. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years. Given these numbers, the cat sterilization advocates are doing a service to the community. Willis says her activity has posi- tively influenced pet owners on the island to spay or neuter their companions; she distributes reduced sterilization certificates from Friends of Animals to sweeten the deal. But not everyone is raving about the efforts of Willis and the other advocates. The Outer Banks SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), which provides the area's animal control, frowns on the trap- sterilize-release programs. "We don't feel that is the humane solution," says President Gail Kowalski. "When we do collect a feral cat, that animal is euthanized as quickly as possible to lessen the chance of injury and minimize stress. "I think the important thing that a lot of people do forget is the ultimate welfare of the animal," she says. "Humans feel better in themselves spaying the animal and turning it loose." Continued COASTWATCH 21
Note About Images
Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original work.