Your Roundup

I'm sure that, like me, you have read about Skylar Adams, a north Payson resident, who has had one of his pets killed by someone with a pellet gun, and another pet wounded.

And I'm sure that, like me, you are outraged and would like to be able to do something about it.

Skylar has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit, and that's a good start.

Any ideas how we can help him out?

I'll suggest that all pet owners can severly reduce or totally eliminate the experience that this gentleman has gone through with his felines. KEEP YOUR PETS CONFINED TO YOUR PROPERTY AND UNDER YOUR CONTROL!

The dicotomy of regulation regarding cats versus dogs has been going on for decades. How cat owners can feel that due to the type of pet they choose, they can be oblivious to their pets encroachment into the lives and on the properties of others has always been a very sore spot with me. I am not a cat hater and have owned one before, but I personally prefer dogs even in light of all the regulations placed upon me and them as compaired to cats. And please do not preach to me about the inherent differences between the nature s of the 2 species. They are no longer wild animals. Mankind has chosen to domesticate and shape them after a fashion WE choose and it is WE that should make sure we have complete control over their conduct and containment.

I abhore the act that took this man's pets, but I also am fully cognizant of the social problem that arises from inconsiderate pet owners and the illegal response that lack of consideration illicits from some within the community. Were it different, we would not even have a need for an organization like the Friends of Ferals. A look in the mirror by cat owners, with considerable scrutiny as to where their responsibility lies in all this is long overdue.

There sure are some jerks out there. They're probably not going to be caught. Stupid adolescents, probably, too much time and easy-to-get BB guns. Plenty to blame, blame the kids, their parents, blame the town for being boring, not hard to see what led to this. I really don't know what the answer is. Definitely keep your pets inside, or in the yard. Kids will do stupid things. Only thing I can say is IF YOU WITNESS THIS IDIOTIC BEHAVIOR, DO SOMETHING! TELL SOMEONE!

As I posted on another thread, don't be so sure it is kids doing this.
I have known men who think it is great sport to buy a BB gun for shooting at cats, squirrels, birds or whatever. Even gophers.
They brag about it.

I do agree with the Chief, it is the responsibilty of the animal owner to keep them under control. Cats should have to be licensed just like dogs.

I have two cats, and occasionally I let them go outside. Outside for my cats is being let out to roam around IN THE GARAGE. My cats are like kids - I wouldn't let small children out in the yard to run in front of a car or get stuck in a tree.

And it never ceases to amaze me that someone can have a cat - a member of the family - and if they are moving to a place that doesn't allow them, they just turn them out to fend for themselves.

If you don't want to take care of a pet, don't get one!

Christopher, Mikey, and Pat,

This incident casts the light of scrutiny upon the issue of pet ownership responsibility as it should. But let no one be under any illusion that it also condones the willful injury or killing of someones pets. Whether it is kids, irresponsible adults, or simply mean people does little to aswage the sorrow by those that lost their pet. We as neighbors need to have the fortitude to confront both sides of this issue head on. If there is someone letting their pets run loose then they should be confronted with the problem of unacceptable act.nd if we witness anyone harming in an way some defensless pet then we shoud either confront those or report what you witnessed to the authorities. And do not be timid and afraid and hise behind anonymity but be ready to openly take a very vivble stand against those acts.

Having said all that, when it comes to rodent/pest control on ones property, that is perfectly allowable within the constraints of the law but is limited to those critters actually catagorized as peats ie, mice, rats, etc. Tree squirrels are listed in the AZG&FD regs as a game animal and there is a season on them so that would preclude them or many other species as "pests" regardless of how much one might disapprove of their prescence on their property.

Most populated areas have ordinances or laws which restrict the shooting of firearms including pellet and BB guns in a polulated area or within a certain distance from any residence. There is nothing wrong with that since children as well as adults need to learn to handle their weapons safely. It seems to me that if someone calls in a complaint of this sort to the sheriff or police department, it should be investigated and prosecuted. Perhaps the next mayor and council will take care of that if they aren't too busy with other stuff.

My former doctor hated to see a child given a bb gun - he told me about the numerous serious injuries, including the loss of eyes which he had treated because of children using the guns inappropriately.

I'm not sure why, but my cats have never been told that they can't jump or climb the fence in my back yard and when allowed outside stay within the fence boundaries with no problem. My cat who traveled with me in my motor home for five years learned very quickly to walk on a leash when outside the RV , Cats are easier to train than dogs, but no one does it!

Chief et al,

I am a cat lover. And that is putting it mildly.

I have never allowed my cats (don't have any right now, sadly) to roam. Never will.

I don't necessarily disagree with you on the laws, and I respect your point of view, but that's not really the point of this string, though it is a worthy issue for another one.

When all this is over, why don't you start up another string to discuss the issue? It's possible that the Payson City Council or the Gila County supervisors might take some action. Who knows? Stranger things have happened. :-)

The point right now, though, is that someone is both legally and morally wrong and I started this string wondering how we might help stop what is going on.

Someone called me and asked me why the high school and junior high don't get involved. I listened, not too enthusiastically at first, and realized that she had a good point. It's very likely that this is a teenager at work, and as she pointed out, that means that the kids at the schools know who it is.

Her idea? An assembly. An emphasis on how wrong it is to do such a thing. Additional emphasis on the $500. A "silent witness" kind of thing.

Could work.

Anyone know the principals? I don't. Perhaps a phone call....

I'm not one of those people who think the schools should solve the ills of the larger community, but this sounds like a case where the schools could, without doing too much, solve a genuine problem.

I happen to also be a dog lover, and while it may be cats now, it could just as well be dogs later. Dogs, doggone them, have a penchant for getting out and roaming no matter how well you try to avoid it.

We would be doing a good thing if the kid (if it is a kid) was caught and straightened out.

I think it would be a better thing if an adult was caught doing it and got a little jail time. Might set an example.

I don't think there is an ordinance against cats running loose in Payson or shooting them.
I think they did pass an ordinance you couldn't have a BB or pellet gun near Green Valley Park because someone shot some ducks or geese.

Tom,
I probably won't be starting any strings on this issue or others in the near future. My wife's cancer has returned, this time in her liver and as you might surely appreciate, much of my time is going to be focused on her and her condition. But I will keep up to speed on the issues as they appear on this forum whenever I can. And my offer to be of any assistance to you during your challeges with Lolly still stands.

The wild cats in Pine can be something of a problem. I have to admit that I am probably not helping the situation. Last summer a black cat started to hang around the place. I tried to ignore it. However, it started to look very hungry and malnourished, so I took pity on the poor thing and have now been feeding it for almost a year. I really wish people wouldn't abandon animals just because they are moving. My comment doesn't help Tom's initial comment. I think a program in the schools would be a good idea. Maybe a call to the principal would be all that it takes.

Ron, I'm sorry to hear that your wife's cancer has returned. If I can be of any help, give a holler. We are not always here, but if we are we would be pleased to lend a hand. Tom, that goes for you, too, if you need someone to stay with your wife while you run errands, give a holler.

Bernice,
Thank you for your consideration. We are all products of our life's experiences and our views are generally shaped by those experiences and choices we make. I certainly pray that those individual differences never get in they way of neighborly compassion and consideration. On those things which we disagree, let us continue the debate. On the one most important thing on which we should all agree is that we genuinely care about the well being of our fellow occupants of this world God has placed us in for a little while.

Chief,

I'll put you and your wife in my prayers.

And I echo every word in your last post.

Chief, Tom, and Pat ~

You are all in my thoughts, too. Brain, lung, and liver cancer took my husband almost 5 years ago, and I know how difficult it is. God was merciful; my guy only lasted 2 months from the onset of his first symptom.

Oh, yes, you are in my thoughts.

mikey

Thanks!!!

Thanks MIkey
I guess until I posted on here about my husband everyone else on here thought everyone was all ok. Wrong. We all have our heartaches.

God Bless Us all and give us the strength we need.

I appreciate the prayers. It seems as we get older, we face more and more of these difficulties in family members, friends, and even ourselves. That's certainly by design as none of us are born immortal. As difficult as it is going through it, we take great comfort in the strength of our faith and putting absolute trust in Him who created us.
Again, thanks to all for your prayers.

May God smile upon you and yours on this Mothers Day.