Caution Needed in Cat Adoptions

From reading Mark Yemma’s account of trying to adopt a cat as a Christmas gift for his son (“Fur Flies as His Gift Idea Spawns a New Pet Peeve,” Jan. 21), it was obvious that Yemma has never devoted any of his free time volunteering in an animal shelter.

Yemma has probably not seen cats arrive at a shelter with open, gaping holes in their faces, or cats so malnourished they can hardly stand.

Has Yemma ever seen what a cat looks like that has been kicked in the ribs? How about hit by a car, but survives?

Before Yemma talks about “volunteerism running amok,” he should spend some time in an animal shelter. See if he doesn’t end up caring what happens to these gentle, living, breathing creatures whose very existence depends on the care we give them and the kind of home we choose for them to live in.

Cats living in an indoor environment can live 15 to 20 years, so choosing the right animal for your family is an enormous decision and not one to be taken lightly.

I hope Yemma will visit any animal shelter during the spring months so he can see firsthand all the returned “gifts” living in cages and hoping that the next family to adopt them will make it a lifetime commitment.

JOELLE BAILEY

Seal Beach

* As one of the “do-gooder volunteers” of the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, I am responding to Mark Yemma’s article about cat adoption. I am pleased that at the Santa Ana Animal Shelter Yemma was able to find a cat “as easy as [finding] an old car part” and that it fit in with his family. However, it does not always work out so well.

Yemma did the Orange County animal shelters a great disservice. I am surprised that as a so-called reporter, he did not ask some more pertinent questions.

He did ask, “What cat crisis in America?” But did he ask the Orange County Animal Shelter how many unwanted or unclaimed cats are euthanized every year at their shelter? Did he happen to ask either the Irvine Animal Care Center or the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter why they don’t adopt out animals over Christmas? Did he happen to ask what becomes of all the unwanted presents after Christmas? Did he happen to ask why the cats are kept secure?

Yemma’s column was needlessly rude and sarcastic, with very few researched facts. Has he ever had to euthanize a cat that has been allowed to run free and is extremely ill, injured or starved? Has he ever had to dig abandoned kittens out of a dumpster because people can’t be bothered to alter their cats?

Did he ever have to pick up body parts after a coyote has killed a cat? Has he ever seen a sweet cat change personalities and become a nasty biter after being declawed, which is equivalent to removing the first segment of your finger?

There are very good reasons for the precautions we take before adopting our animals. We want to protect not only the animals but the people who may be adopting them.

SYNTHIA SCOFIELD

Laguna Niguel