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- Aug 4, 2014
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Ugh. Where to start.
On November 1st/Sunday, when I went to one of our colony sites to pick up the bowls and the game camera I set by the bowls to keep an eye on the cats, someone had stolen all of it. (Bowls and camera are only left there for 30 minutes before I come to get them).
No one has messed with the bowls again the past two days, but today when I was picking them up, a man literally ran at me, screaming.
I had talked to two neighbors in this area previously. I told them what I was doing, and gave one of them the name of the local low cost spay/neuter clinic I was taking a trapped cat to that morning, since he seemed concerned.
This angry neighbor had clearly spoken to that one because he screamed that he checked and I “did not work there.”
I calmly explained that I never said I worked there, it was simply the clinic I was taking them to, as that is all they are - a vet clinic, not a rescue organization (in fact, that other guy had specifically asked if I worked there, and I explicitly clarified this, and explained I do this on my own time and dime...).
This man continued to yell quite aggressively at me and would not listen to anything I was trying to say.
He said he’s a former cop and he knows where I live and my name, and repeatedly shouted my address and name at me (although he had my name a bit wrong).
When I did manage to get a word in, he cut me off, shouted he didn’t believe me, demanded I tell him where some neighbor’s missing cat is, and accused me of hurting his two outdoor cats.
He told me that he’s “already opened up a case” on me, filed an animal abuse report on me, told me I’m already being investigated, submitted my camera for evidence, told me I wouldn’t get away with this, said I was disgusting, vile, creepy, etc
He then made a beeline for my car and stuck his head in the open window while screaming “Do you have any cats in here right now?!”
The entire time I was trying to deescalate, calmly empathize with his concerns, and explain what I was doing, but he just was not having it - he just kept cutting me off or shouting over me every time I attempted to speak.
After about five (frankly terrifying) minutes, I finally managed to calm him down enough to get a word in.
I told him I understood his concern, especially since he had two outdoor cats of his own that were frequently in the same area.
But I assured him of what we were doing and that I was not trapping his cats, briefly explained TNR, and encouraged him to Google it (the only reason I didn’t comprehensively explain it is because I was already having trouble getting words in as is).
He again stated his two cats have shown up in the past couple of months with injuries, so he knows what I said is not true.
I told him one of the reasons we neuter the males is to decrease aggression, and that his cats may have been injured by one of those we haven’t been able to neuter yet.
He said he didn’t believe that, because one of them had a paw injury that was “really suspicious.”
He seemed under the impression that I only started caring for this colony recently, but I have been doing so for about 6 months now (long before his cats were injured).
I explained I also hadn’t trapped there in a while (we target females first, and we’d already spayed all the females there, so now we’re working on the females in another nearby colony), and that I only use humane traps that do not harm the cats.
I finally persuaded him to take my contact information (he kept refusing this throughout the conversation prior, angrily stating he didn’t need it because he already knows where I live...), and gave him the name of the spay/neuter clinic, as well as my primary vet clinic (which is where we take kittens, friendly cats, and injured ferals - they are well aware of what we do, and fully support us).
Still angry, he shouted that he doesn’t like animals being hurt, and that he was going to check into things, and if everything was on the up and up, he would apologize (he managed to somehow say this in the least civil way possible).
After this conversation, I knew I had to contact my clinics to give them permission to confirm my status as a client and vouch for me.
But to add insult to injury -
I called the spay/neuter clinic, and explained the situation - guy doesn’t know what TNR is, doesn’t believe me, and is convinced I’m hurting cats, can you please verify to him that TNR is a legitimate practice and that I am a client of your clinic?
The woman said someone did, in fact, call yesterday to ask if I worked there - so they therefore were not going to be involved. She said this in an obviously accusatory manor.
When I tried to explain that I never said I worked there, that one of the neighbors was clearly confused, she became even more terse with me, and just started repeating “we are not going to get involved”.
I finally asked to speak to an upper level manager by name - a name I know because I work in rescue and have been going to, and donating to, this clinic for years.
At that point she (very begrudgingly) relented and asked what my name was and looked up my file. Then, in an exasperated tone, said she’ll leave a note to confirm that I’m a client if he calls.
Honestly, I just wanted to scream.
This clinic claims to advocate for community cats and their caretakers, but this employee was completely ready to just throw me under the bus without question.
Before talking to her, I had no doubt it would be an easy conversation - after all, it was with my regular practice vet, and pretty much the only time they ever deal with ferals is when I bring one in.
You would think a place that literally caters to community cats and promotes TNR would be more understanding. As individuals, caretakers cannot do what we do without these clinics and organizations having our backs.
First thing she should have done is ask for my name so that she could see I’m a weekly freaking client there.
After the awful and terrifying encounter with the neighbor, I expected the clinic to have my back and support me. And I know it’s just a single employee, but man, it hurt.
So, here I am. Because I know you guys will listen to me, and will support me. And I know you all understand.
On November 1st/Sunday, when I went to one of our colony sites to pick up the bowls and the game camera I set by the bowls to keep an eye on the cats, someone had stolen all of it. (Bowls and camera are only left there for 30 minutes before I come to get them).
No one has messed with the bowls again the past two days, but today when I was picking them up, a man literally ran at me, screaming.
I had talked to two neighbors in this area previously. I told them what I was doing, and gave one of them the name of the local low cost spay/neuter clinic I was taking a trapped cat to that morning, since he seemed concerned.
This angry neighbor had clearly spoken to that one because he screamed that he checked and I “did not work there.”
I calmly explained that I never said I worked there, it was simply the clinic I was taking them to, as that is all they are - a vet clinic, not a rescue organization (in fact, that other guy had specifically asked if I worked there, and I explicitly clarified this, and explained I do this on my own time and dime...).
This man continued to yell quite aggressively at me and would not listen to anything I was trying to say.
He said he’s a former cop and he knows where I live and my name, and repeatedly shouted my address and name at me (although he had my name a bit wrong).
When I did manage to get a word in, he cut me off, shouted he didn’t believe me, demanded I tell him where some neighbor’s missing cat is, and accused me of hurting his two outdoor cats.
He told me that he’s “already opened up a case” on me, filed an animal abuse report on me, told me I’m already being investigated, submitted my camera for evidence, told me I wouldn’t get away with this, said I was disgusting, vile, creepy, etc
He then made a beeline for my car and stuck his head in the open window while screaming “Do you have any cats in here right now?!”
The entire time I was trying to deescalate, calmly empathize with his concerns, and explain what I was doing, but he just was not having it - he just kept cutting me off or shouting over me every time I attempted to speak.
After about five (frankly terrifying) minutes, I finally managed to calm him down enough to get a word in.
I told him I understood his concern, especially since he had two outdoor cats of his own that were frequently in the same area.
But I assured him of what we were doing and that I was not trapping his cats, briefly explained TNR, and encouraged him to Google it (the only reason I didn’t comprehensively explain it is because I was already having trouble getting words in as is).
He again stated his two cats have shown up in the past couple of months with injuries, so he knows what I said is not true.
I told him one of the reasons we neuter the males is to decrease aggression, and that his cats may have been injured by one of those we haven’t been able to neuter yet.
He said he didn’t believe that, because one of them had a paw injury that was “really suspicious.”
He seemed under the impression that I only started caring for this colony recently, but I have been doing so for about 6 months now (long before his cats were injured).
I explained I also hadn’t trapped there in a while (we target females first, and we’d already spayed all the females there, so now we’re working on the females in another nearby colony), and that I only use humane traps that do not harm the cats.
I finally persuaded him to take my contact information (he kept refusing this throughout the conversation prior, angrily stating he didn’t need it because he already knows where I live...), and gave him the name of the spay/neuter clinic, as well as my primary vet clinic (which is where we take kittens, friendly cats, and injured ferals - they are well aware of what we do, and fully support us).
Still angry, he shouted that he doesn’t like animals being hurt, and that he was going to check into things, and if everything was on the up and up, he would apologize (he managed to somehow say this in the least civil way possible).
After this conversation, I knew I had to contact my clinics to give them permission to confirm my status as a client and vouch for me.
But to add insult to injury -
I called the spay/neuter clinic, and explained the situation - guy doesn’t know what TNR is, doesn’t believe me, and is convinced I’m hurting cats, can you please verify to him that TNR is a legitimate practice and that I am a client of your clinic?
The woman said someone did, in fact, call yesterday to ask if I worked there - so they therefore were not going to be involved. She said this in an obviously accusatory manor.
When I tried to explain that I never said I worked there, that one of the neighbors was clearly confused, she became even more terse with me, and just started repeating “we are not going to get involved”.
I finally asked to speak to an upper level manager by name - a name I know because I work in rescue and have been going to, and donating to, this clinic for years.
At that point she (very begrudgingly) relented and asked what my name was and looked up my file. Then, in an exasperated tone, said she’ll leave a note to confirm that I’m a client if he calls.
Honestly, I just wanted to scream.
This clinic claims to advocate for community cats and their caretakers, but this employee was completely ready to just throw me under the bus without question.
Before talking to her, I had no doubt it would be an easy conversation - after all, it was with my regular practice vet, and pretty much the only time they ever deal with ferals is when I bring one in.
You would think a place that literally caters to community cats and promotes TNR would be more understanding. As individuals, caretakers cannot do what we do without these clinics and organizations having our backs.
First thing she should have done is ask for my name so that she could see I’m a weekly freaking client there.
After the awful and terrifying encounter with the neighbor, I expected the clinic to have my back and support me. And I know it’s just a single employee, but man, it hurt.
So, here I am. Because I know you guys will listen to me, and will support me. And I know you all understand.
Does this man have any clue how vicious tom cat fights are? I have seen cats injured from these fights, one cat in particular was always getting into fights and had a wound that turned into an abcess. This cat was a complete mess. Thankfully, he was taken to a clinic where he got wound treatment and was tnred. 
Is there someone above that snotty employee to vouch for you, perhaps have some fellow tnr/caretakers who can get involved. In my neck of the woods, I take cats to the ASPCA to get tnred for free. Their program has been very helpful. Since this guy will probably call the ASPCA on you, you may want to contact them and explain that your are a local tnr/caretaker and tell them about your encounter with this guy and that he doesn't understand tnr and was very hostile towards you. Have your proof, receipts from clinic, pics of cats, statement from fellow caretakers, etc. This guy will look like a fool if he keeps presenting you as an animal abuser. My goodness of all things to accuse you of!!! The tnr group that got turned against me where blaming me for the fight with neighbor, even though she wrote a nasty email and I wrote one back calling her out her bs and here is the kicker when i mentioned that i am getting mobbed by her cats--the tnr group told me to shoo the cats back (which doesn't work btw) and to STOP taking things out of the cats. WTH! . After, I was the one who was telling them how concerned I was for their welfare and listing the reasons why. Oh dear, It really sucks when people see you in a bad light when you are busting your butt to try to help the cats. SMH in utter dusgust. This guy will never apologize when he finds out you are a decent person helping the cats. So don't expect it. I hope this mess gets cleared up. Please take people with you when you go back there. Do not neglect your safety. This guy sounds very hostile and who knows what he will stoop to.
Turn the tables.
). I know for a fact some of the footage on there shows ear tips close up.
)
