Can Mobile Home Management L Egallyconfiscate Our Cats Found Outside?

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Melinda Niekum

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I don't know if I am posting to the right place, but here goes:

I live in a mobile home park in Anaheim, CA. There have been a number of feral cats on the property. Yesterday the park manager informed my housemate that management is going to send an agency to pick up ANY cats found outside. She did not say what would be done with them. My older fixed male cat regularly goes outside and does not like to be kept indoors (mostly he keeps to the veranda) and he is not a nuisance to anybody. I would like to know what my legal recourse is in case these fascists do pick him up (he is microchipped). We own the home and have lived here 17 years. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Melinda Niekum
 
GoldyCat

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The first thing you need to do is find out what your local laws are. That is going to vary from one community to another.

Do you own the lot as well as the home? This might fall under landlord/tenant rights.

Try to find out what agency the manager is planning to use, and what will be done with the cats once they're taken off the property. You might call animal control and ask what they're allowed to do, or what private agencies are allowed to do?

In the meantime, I would try to keep your kitty indoors until the issue is resolved. If the manager hires a private individual to trap the cats, they could be taken to be euthanized immediately, without checking whether they are feral or someone's pet.
 
vyger

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Something you might do right away, if you don't have a fence of some kind already, put one up. Not to keep the cat in but to keep the people out. A demarcation line of sorts that says this is my ground and you are not allowed on it. So if they see a cat in your area they are not allowed to touch it otherwise they are trespassing. You can put up a sign to that effect. Even if you are renting the ground you do have rights and you can restrict certain people from your lot. If that were not the case anybody could just go anywhere they wanted, take anything not inside the dwelling and look in any window they felt like. Renting a lot gives you rights concerning what happens on that lot.
 
kashmir64

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Here is the only thing I found. That it is not illegal to trap stray animals and a pet outside of the control of their caregiver is considered a stray. Meaning of leash and roaming free.
You may have to keep him inside. He won't like it at first, but he'll get used to it. Let him look out a window.
 
di and bob

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Yes, the only sure way is to keep him inside until it is over. I would advise any other pet owners you know also. I woudl imagine they euthanize the caught cats quickly. It is a shame they don't know about trap/neuter/release, TNR,to stabalize and control ferals, the way they are doing it will just encourage different cats to move in. Someone must have complained for them to take this action. My heart aches for those poor innocent little ones......
 
catsknowme

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Welcome to TCS! :hithere: While your situation is very upsetting, it might jolt animal lovers, pet advocates and fellow cat guardians into ACTION! :hangin:
Yes, as the HOMEOWNER, CA law allows you to have one pet; however, your pet is subject to the rules of the park. Your park is required to provide you with a current WRITTEN copy of those rules annually. Also, the park manager needs to inform you in WRITING of their intentions to be capturing outside cats - some managers let their egos get in the way of etiquette and civil requirements and tend to "bully" trailer park tenants.
This is tough, I know, but try to remain calm, approachable and cooperative. You need to ask for written notice that specifies when the removals are scheduled; what the intentions for captured cats are; how management intends to alert owners that the removals are currently occurring.
Also, do not underestimate the power of social media. Even though in 2015 the City of Anaheim and Disneyland tried getting rid of the Disneyland cats, the public backlash via social media was so loud, the Disneyland cats were given permanent safety status.
I will add another post of resources for you to check out. Please hang in there - with my religious beliefs, I feel that God may be working this as a rallying cry to help His feral cats (abandoned/stray is often a more accurate label). I know how difficult it can be to deal with these situations but you are now part of an international community that advocates and cares for cats. Keep strong, fellow kitty warrior! :heartshape::cheerleader::soldier::soldier::soldier::grouphug2::grouphug:
 

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supermax1943

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catsknowme said:
Welcome to TCS! :hithere: While your situation is very upsetting, it might jolt animal lovers, pet advocates and fellow cat guardians into ACTION! :hangin:
Yes, as the HOMEOWNER, CA law allows you to have one pet; however, your pet is subject to the rules of the park. Your park is required to provide you with a current WRITTEN copy of those rules annually. Also, the park manager needs to inform you in WRITING of their intentions to be capturing outside cats - some managers let their egos get in the way of etiquette and civil requirements and tend to "bully" trailer park tenants.
This is tough, I know, but try to remain calm, approachable and cooperative. You need to ask for written notice that specifies when the removals are scheduled; what the intentions for captured cats are; how management intends to alert owners that the removals are currently occurring.
Also, do not underestimate the power of social media. Even though in 2015 the City of Anaheim and Disneyland tried getting rid of the Disneyland cats, the public backlash via social media was so loud, the Disneyland cats were given permanent safety status.
I will add another post of resources for you to check out. Please hang in there - with my religious beliefs, I feel that God may be working this as a rallying cry to help His feral cats (abandoned/stray is often a more accurate label). I know how difficult it can be to deal with these situations but you are now part of an international community that advocates and cares for cats. Keep strong, fellow kitty warrior! :heartshape::cheerleader::soldier::soldier::soldier::grouphug2::grouphug:
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supermax1943

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Hi CatsKnowMe,
I just wanted to say how much it moved me to read what you said about God may have a hand in what she is going through at the trailer park with her cat. The crisis I am going through with my colony (over on the SOS forum for feral cats) has felt as if it has a bigger meaning than just what is happening with me and the colony cats. This is the first time the county has faced an issue about a TNR colony. Obviously, there are many in the county and now County Animal Services realizes they must draft an ordinance that covers TNR because they do not cover it in the only ordinance on the books which says you can't have over five cats.

As hard as this crisis has been it helps to have another reminder that this may be God's work to help His feral cats that live all over this county. Thanks for your thoughtful words.
 
catsknowme

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supermax1943 supermax1943 .... thank you for the encouragement :hugs: it really helps! I have been getting amazing answers to my prayers and I pray for others as well. I will check out your thread.
M Melinda Niekum .... it's been a month since we heard from you. Are there any updates? Prayers and vibes for the safety of your cats and a harmonious community where you live - I know how divisive the subject of outside cats can be. Remember that we at TCS are on your side. :vibes::vibes::grouphug2::cheerleader::grouphug::soldier::soldier::soldier:
 
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