Since your comments are not visible on the Petition I thought you’d like to see what people are saying.
SO important that this be allowed to continue.
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Rats go where there is garbage! If the cats were not there, the rat population would be horrendous. The cats are not hurting anything and by being taken care of the population is kept under control and balanced without sickness and disease. Let people who care, continue to care!
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Supporters of feral cat colonies are the only chance at a decent life our homeless city cats have.
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Every cat is special
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I adopted a lovely pair that came from this colony through Basia’s help. This colony is the wellspring for two of the brightest spots of joy in my life now, and I can’t imagine my life without them. More power to Ms. Zamorska!
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It is completely illogical to suggest that the cats are causing the rat presence. Rats will always be present in NY where there is garbage and water. If anything cats kill rats and mice. Basia has reduced the colony from 50 to 7 cats, that is a favor to them and to you, please support her compassionate work.
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Please let these cats live and be fed here. If the rats are the issue, killing or removing the cats will only make the rat population rise.
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Please allow Elizabeth and Basia to feed and look after the feral colonies in the warehouse! I have taken several trips with Elizabeth and have sdeen what she does when I lived back east. Elizabeth and Basia are selfless and causing no harm in their efforts to anyone. I have seen baby kittnes rescued throughout DUMBO and placed into the loving arms of fellow community members. There are also many happy ferals that depend on their time efforts and donations of service and food. SAVE DUMBO PLEASE!
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Only an inhuman person or persons would want to stop God’s creatures from being taken care of. These animals are being cared for by two caring people who have hearts and who realise that these cats need to survive and by feeding them they can be kept alive. To stop feeding them will be nothing less than cold blooded murder. Would anyone want that on their conscience????
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I too am a cat rescuer and have 2 cats I rescued as feral kittens. One is still a bit feral and the other is my most affectionate cat. I have 8 rescued cats in my apartment.
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please understand that these animals have no-one else….don’t let them starve to death.
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Iam filled with admiration for what you do. Godbless you all
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I have rats and mice in my building and there are no colonies being fed near me… Rodents are a simple fact in the city and the boroughs. We need the cats to help keep the population down. Talk to any decent exterminator and he will tell you that cats being nearby discourage all but the most desperate of rodents. My cats are fat and spoiled. On the rare occasion that mice have gotten into my actual apartment, my cats have killed them for sport and instinct.
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Good luck!
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Seems like a no-brainer this - the presence of cats cannot encourage rats
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thanks
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congratulations on your humane and necessary action. we’re trying to do the same in the Montmartre area, Paris.
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Please leave the cats be, let them do their job and live their lives in the only way they know.
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Please allow these people to continue helping these creatures, who are unable to advocate for themselves. In the words of the Dalei Lama:
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Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures.
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The demand to stop feeding these cats is completely illogical. They are altered and vaccinated against rabies and feline diseases. They are clearly not a menace to the community. Perhaps caring about their lives would be more meaningful and productive than championing a cause for their demise.
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Please let these two compassionate and kind women continue their work.
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Help these ladies in the good humane work they dedicate them selves to doing. DON’T SHUT THEM DOWN
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Please allow Basia Zamorska and Elizabeth Newsom to feed and look after the Colony of feral cats in the warehouse in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
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I suggest that if there is even the slightest question about whether Elizabeth and Basia are doing the right thing, kindly give them the benefit of the doubt and let them continue their humane efforts until the ASPCA’s experts can weigh in on the matter (I’m sure this can be arranged).
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Basia and Elizabeth are making such a difference in these cat’s lives. My hope is that they can continue to "do good" to all of God’s creatures.
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Elizabeth and Basia are benefiting the community with their spay/neuter program, the shelters which pay to catch and put them to sleep, the residents as cats assist in controlling the rat populations, and providing other benefits. The chances of rehoming feral cats or one day not having any ferals are not realistic at all and these women are doing excellent work.
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It is a thoughtless choice to forbid Basia and Elizabeth to feed the cats. It benefits no one!
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To stop taking care of these helpless animals is not only cruel, but inhumane!!!
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David, Can we PLEASE work together as we have been for these past few years? WE honor our existing agreement with you but we can not control what the workers do or the infamous woman in the grey isuzu trooper. Please reconsider before the cats starve or die of rat poisoning.
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I feed the colony in elmhurst, queens.
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This work benefits the neighborhood. Please look at the facts and see how important it is to allow this managed colony to continue.
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I,M IN TO help save the colony!
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This work is vital.
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These cats need the help of humans and are doing very well as they are.
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When will America step up like actual first world countries and provide solutions that are satisfactory to both sides of the platform; countries like Sweden and Belgium.
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Cats kill rats. No cats - more rats.
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What part of this do you not understand?
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I love kitties!
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No cats? Hello rats!!!!
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Please understand that these people are doing a very good thing, please let them continue.
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cats rule!
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Please, please, please!!! Do not force these kitties to go hungry. It will not get rid of the colony!
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These individuals are doing great things for the cats and the neighborhood. Please allow them to continue to display their concern for these animals — which aren’t allowed to choose where they live in New York — and their human neighbors.
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A managed feral colony is good for everyone, including their human neighbors. Not feeding them never works. You have a good caretaker; let her continue to be responsible for these cats. Don’t we have room in our world for this fortunate combo of kindness and common sense?
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Thank you Basia!! The kitties deserve it.
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Basia has done you a huge favor out of her own time & money - cleaning up a mess that was not hers. If she hadn’t taken those generous steps you would have had hundreds of cats by now.
Net you have benefited tremendously. You only have 7 cats left. If you oust them YOU WILL be over-run by rats. I have a spayed & neutered the colony in my back yard. I too started off with a couple of dozen cats w/ additional kittens. Now I only have 6 survivors. I live above the subway & also would be over-run by rats without them.
In Europe in the 14th Century the Pope decreed that cats were the envoys of the Devil & set about destroying them. The continent was over-run by rats who carried the flees that introduced the Plague which killed one third of the people in short order
Don’t be a dumb-ass in Dumbo!!!
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On the contrary, the cats are keeping the rat population down. If the cats are removed the rats will multiply.
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Please allow these two wonderful women to feed and look after the cats. The cats needs someones help.
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Its not the poor animals fault!
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please allow these cats to continue to be looked after in their warehouse
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Compassionate but also very sensible for the whole community
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The cats provide rodent control. They are neutered so there is population control, noise control, and smell control. It doesn’t get any better than that.
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Abandonment of the colony is needless cruelty. Allow Basia Zamorska and Elizabeth Newsom to feed and look after the Colony of feral cats in the warehouse in DUMBO.
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As a veterinarian, I support the care and feeding of managed feral cat colonies. By "managed" I mean that the feeders are diligent about TNR work - Trap, Neuter, Return. Relocation of cats is not a humane option.
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Best of luck.
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please leave the cats and let them be cared for. they’re doing you a service by keeping down the rat population!
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My wish for these feral cats is to live in peace and harmony. We can all learn to co-exist.
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Best of luck to you!
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Please give these cats a chance.
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It is cruel to put an end to their source of food, water, and care. How would you like it if your lifelines disappeared?
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Stopping food is the cruelest treatment, but invariably will not stop the cats from living there or from new ones coming in.
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I’ve lived near a feral cat colony. They don’t go away when not fed, they simply breed and die unpleasantly, to be replaced by more unspayed cats.
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Let Basia keep feeding, spaying and putting up for adoption
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Surely cats keep the rat population down and in check……!
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This colony deserves a fighting chance. Please do not disrupt this necessary work.
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Let the healthy, cared for cats continue the good work of keeping down the rats.Please.
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I am not a lover of cats but neither do I like rats so I know which I would rather have. At least by allowing Basia and Elizabeth to continue caring for the cats, the cat population will be kept under control and the healthier cats are the better they will be able to keep down the rat population.
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The only way to combat rats and mice is to TNR the cats and maintain the colony. Otherwise, you’ll be overrun with rats!
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Keep up the good work - an avid lurker…
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this is inhumane.
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Cats are the best form of rodent control. Cheap, effective and non-toxic. The idea that the cats attract rodents is preposterous. Especially when there’s tons of garbage around.
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your dedication needs success Good Luck
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Cats are extremely helpful in keeping the rat population under control, without them the rat
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population will soon be out of control. Be very thankful that you have a cat colony doing tremendous and valuable work for the neighbouring residents.
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Please allow these cats to continue to be fed and TNR. This really works I can say from from my experience to cut down new kittens from being born and eliminates new cats from coming into the area. Its easier to be cruel and bias towards homeless animals then to take the time to help, please decide for the humane choice. Do not let these cats suffer!!
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As the ‘grandmother’ of seven beautiful, charming, and healthy rescue cats, I thank you for your work.
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protecting animals reveals our humanity
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Please allow Basia to continue the important civil work she is doing for New York. She is saving lives, keeping animals healthy, and keeping the population at ZERO POPULATION GROWTH.
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Basia and Elizabeth are absolutely correct. The presence of cats serves as a deterrent to rats, and uncontained garbage attracts them. Cat food which is quickly consumed by the cats is not the issue.
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Logic suggests that less cats will mean more rats…
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Remember the vacuum effect!!
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I have seen this work at first hand, and it is based on sound principles. To prevent it will not rid the site of cats - more ferals will simply take their place.
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I look after a group here in Yorkshire
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Currently feeding own feral cat and gratefulf for the advice given by Basia on this and other cat issues
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What harm is there in letting Basia look after a few needy cats?
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I did many years’ active cat rescue work in London and know the misery of urban sites with feral cat colonies. As you have a very trustworthy and long-established cat rescue worker in Basia Zamorska, please, in simple charity and humanity, let her continue to feed and medicate the existing cats on your site, and prevent further kittens being born, through her neutering campaign. It won’t cost you anything and will win you esteem in the local community which may be of ultimate benefit in local trade relations. Thank you for your attention.
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These are working animals who do a good job. They should be allowed to remain, and Basia Zamorska should be allowed to continue to feed them. The amount of cat food left uneaten will be nil, and therefore cannot attract rats. Believe me, get rid of the cats, and then you will have rats in a BIG way!
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With so much hardship (wars, banking crisis, etc) in the world who is the idiot who is taking offence at Basia helping out a colony of cats? Uncaring human beings caused there to be a need for a feeding shelter for these animals in the first place…don’t let the animals suffer because of yet more human small minded pettiness
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I fully support Basia in her work.
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These catch neuter and release colonies are vital for the survival of feral cats in cities, these cats are totally unsuitable for rehoming, and need someone like Basia to feed them.
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Please allow these cats to continue to receive food and care from their devoted helpers. Cats do not attract rats, they repel them.
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I have visited the warehouse with Basia while she feeds the cats - logically, there will be rats in any space near a river. A healthy colony of feral cats will keep the rat population down.
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Cats are actively encouraged to live in stables, retail premises and farms, etc, just for this purpose
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Starving cats are not as efficient hunters as adequatey fed ones, so the residents interests, Basias and the cats are all served by allowing the feeding to continue
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Keep up the good work
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Bit of a cliche, but I reckon it’s true. People who cant care for animals arent all that good with humans either.
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I’ve followed Basia’s work from the UK with great admiration. Do please let it continue.
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healthy outdoor cats equal no rats - simple equation really. And living by the River Thames I know of what I speak.
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Please let common sense prevail. My very best to Basia and all with whom she does such fantastic work. Claire xx aka Ripleywood
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From a mustardland lurker who enjoys reading about the cats
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Loving kindness knows no limits. All life deserves a chance.
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Keep up the good work with the ferals.
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Cats will kill rats, even if they don’t eat them.
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After all your help over FatClov’s diet, Basia, signing your petition is the least I can do
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I cannot understand the mentality of people who want to do things that would make the lives of these unfortunate cats worse. I hope the people who are threatening the colony get turned out of their apartments and have to live on the streets. Let’s see how THEY like it. Good luck, Basia
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Wishing you every success Basia and thanks a million for all your efforts.
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Please have compassion and help Basia keep the cats safe.
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This is important work caring for cats which have been spayed and cannot reproduce. Cats will help to keep rat populations at lower levels.
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I wish I could do more to help.
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Please save the colony.
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Those residents need to be taught a little about ecosystems and food webs, that you can’t remove one element without pulling the whole system out of course
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Please, if someone is prepared to go to such lengths to help the cats, surely that’s got to be better than just letting them run unchecked?
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I’ve visited this feral cat colony with Basia. I’m not really much of a cat lover, nor someone with a sentimental view of animals, but I saw the effect of the work she’s doing there. Personally, I’d rather there weren’t feral cats: people should spay their cats. But if there are feral cats — the results of human thoughtlessness — then it’s in all our interests that they are fed & looked out for. It means they wont spread disease and they can do their bit in the city’s ecology. The cats are healthy, and able to do some useful work: they keep the mice and rats down with their natural hunting instincts.
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Please listen to Basia, she knows what she’s talking about.
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Please let this very special work continue.
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I hope very much a little common sense and a lot of humanity will prevail…huge support from me to you Basia, for the great work you do for the cats of the USA…..from Ann in Australia
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Full support from me
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keep down the rat population- feed these cats.
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Feeding these cats can be worked out - please try.
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Please allow the cats to remain to do their job of rodent control.
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Without the effort and time put in by Basia and her colleagues, these cats breed, they will become ill and they will suffer. Please don’t let them down.
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CATS NEED FOOD
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Save those poor cats please
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Why would anyone NOT want Basia to help these animals? She is just helping cats that someone else has not looked after properly. How can that be wrong ?
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Industrial sites such as DUMBO need cats to be able to catch rats. It is wrong to think that starving cats catch more rats, they need to be in reasonable health to have the energy to hunt. People must understand that if these cats are removed from the site, the rat population will explode. The solution has worked for three years, why change it now?
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The work Basia and her friends does helps control and ensure the health of the cats in the warehouse. Feeding the cats will not increase the rats population in the warehouse.
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Thank you. This is to urge David,the previously understanding owner of the warehouse to allow us to continue our good work at the long-standing colony. It’s only 7 cats but without them, the rat population will escalate if we remove the cats, which will be our only option as allowing the cats to starve is not an option.
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please reconsider the decision to stop allowing volunteers to care for these feral cats.
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Let’s keep these cats alive and well.