The Benefits of Feral Cat TNR Programs vs. Euthanasia

Feral and stray cats are the greatest source of cat overpopulation in the United States. A large percentage of feral cats are euthanized each year and governments are trying to implement “catch and kill” programs to decrease the cat population. Feral cats deserve to be treated humanely and be given a chance at a healthy outdoor life. Wikipedia defines a feral cat as a free-roaming cat that is born and raised in the wild. A stray cat is a pet cat that has been abandoned or lost and has reverted back to its “wild” instinctual self in order to survive. These cats have also been referred to as alley cats, street cats, or outside cats.

In the U.S. alone,… Read More

If your pets are anything like mine, they love being outside. Even a relatively small yard can seem like the world’s biggest playground for your dogs or cats, as it gives them the opportunity to follow their powerful instinct to roam and explore.

But the outdoors also poses a variety of potential threats to our beloved pets. With the large numbers of disease-carrying stray dogs and feral cats — and the other “nuisance” critters that are patrolling our suburban neighborhoods these days like skunks and raccoons — it’s easy for pets to fall prey, even if they never leave your property.

As an animal control professional, I see far too many instances of rabies and other illnesses and injuries inflicted on family pets by wild animals and strays. Often these occur right in the owner’s backyard in typical… Read More

I just had to write Havahart to say how satisfied I am with my model 1025 trap and its ability to prevent chipmunk damage.

This spring I had noticed a small hole dug at the base of our above ground swimming pool. I tried to fill it in, but it reappeared the next day. Had to be a mole or chipmunk. The hole went under the liner several feet. This pest had to be "relocated" before the liner was compromised. Between the liner, 12,000 gallons of water, labor for replacement, and washout damage, this could have been easily a bill for $2000.

How I Used the Trap to Prevent Chipmunk Damage

I purchased your trap, baited it with pecans, and placed it at the entrance of the hole. Less than 24 hours later, I had a very excited… Read More

Image: mcwetboy

My friend Dave’s taste in pets has always leaned toward the unusual. When we were kids, while most of us were bugging our parents to get a puppy, kitten, or even a hamster (“Yes Dad, I promise I’ll take care of it all by myself!”), Dave was endlessly lobbying for monkeys and iguanas.

There were many times when I’d enter Dave’s house only to hear something like, “David, if I told you once, I told you a thousand times, we’re not getting a tarantula!” He usually had to settle for turtles and guinea pigs.

So, it came as little surprise that when Dave moved out on his own, one of his first actions was to get a snake. Dave was a little vague about how the snake came into his possession—my guess is that he… Read More