|
Animals
Tails of Two
Cities
or
The Great Columbus, Colorado County /
Canada Cat Compromises
By Brewster Hudspeth
|
Brownie on the
Hill
TE photo,
February 2010 |
Admittedly,
there’s a slight difference in size. Columbus,
Colorado County, Texas
has a population of just under 4,000 while Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
has roughly 812,000 residents. But if one factors in the populations
of Columbus’ satellite communities of Glidden
and Alleyton,
Columbus’ population then swells to well over 4,000 people, narrowing
the gap.
Similarities between the two cities abound. Ottawa is the capital
of Canada, while Columbus
is the County Seat of Colorado
County. Both sit on the south sides of rivers. And, (get this)
both rivers are named after the county and/or province.
What else do these cities have in common, you ask? “Not much,” I answer.
But there is a feline connection. Both places have had a common problem
with cats and both places have independently come up with sensible
and compassionate solutions. |
Columbus cats
when they had the run of the place.
TE photo, 2009 |
Part One:
The Columbus Story
Residents of Columbus
have long been known for their big hearts. But in the not-too-distant
past, big-hearted Columbians were aghast to find the cat population
that lived near the town square was being poisoned.
Something needed to be done. A few members of the big-hearted tribe
came up with a solution: catch the whiskered ones, spay and neuter
them, give them shots and then release them on the east side of the
Colorado River – in a beautiful, under-used county park.
Local volunteers feed and water the cats at planned intervals and
predictably, the cats quickly adjusted to the routine (read immediately
adjusted).
In warmer months, the moss-draped, riverside landscape began to resemble
a Henri Rousseau painting albeit with fewer sleeping gypsies and a
lot more Live Oak trees.
Wooden structures to shelter the cats from fierce northern winds were
removed on the grounds that they were eyesores. On
this point, the Canadians seem to have solved the problem. (Please
read on.)
There was a slight wrinkle in the plan when the cats mistook the Columbus
Garden Club’s beautification flowerbed as an expansion of bathroom
space. The cats were moved further down the river bank. The installation
of durable signs discourages people from feeding the cats. Today it’s
harder to visit the cats but volunteers are still permitted to feed
and water their wards.
This relocation makes it more difficult for people to adopt the cats
– and adopt them, they did. Earl, a handsome Tom that used to give
visitors tours of the colony was adopted by visiting tourists and
now resides in a chateau overlooking Lake Lucerne (or so I was told).
Congratulations to the big-hearted volunteers of Columbus
and the understanding members of the Columbus Garden Club who recognize
the power of cooperation and know that communities, like people, are
often judged by how they treat their four-legged citizens. |
 |
The past.
Please do not feed the cats now.
TE photo, 2009 |
Visitor from
Taft, Texas gets a tour in December.
TE photo, 2009 |
Part Two:
The Canadian Solution
Roughly 2,000 miles northeast of Columbus,
Texas is Ottawa, the capital of Canada and home to the Parliament
Hill cats. Here, the cat “problem” dates back over 100 years when
the cats were once employed as mousers. (There’s nothing more aggravating
than trying to pass laws and having a mouse run up your leg.)
Fast-forward to the 1970s when the cat population was fed by a single
volunteer. (A poignant note
tells the story.). As he became less able to care for the cats, a
small group took over the duties, feeding both cats and their frequent
dinner guests (drop-in raccoons, squirrels and groundhogs). Annual
shots and checkups are provided free of charge by a local Veterinary
clinic.
One time a change of government prompted a new member to declare the
cats “a disgrace,” wherein the opposition party's impassioned response
that "these are our cats. They belong here!” had the same effect as
the "Have you no sense of decency, Sir?” speech that unseated Joseph
McCarthy in the U.S. The cats' place on the hill was assured.
Instead of being a disgrace, the cats have become famous. Tourists
seek them out and the volunteer caretakers continue their rounds,
year-round. A drop box for donations is present at the site.
One cat (named Brunette) recently died at the age of 19 years. Brunette
had been BOH (Born on the Hill) as had Brownie (pictured in the first
photo). Other residents include Coal, Tigres and Moo.
The cats can be viewed on You Tube through a number of clips uploaded
by visitors. A Search for Parliament Hill Cats will bring up clips
showing the sanctuary with its residents as well as their drop-in
guests. |
 |
The shelter
problem solved.
TE photo, February 2010 |
| Note:
The shelter problem which vexed the people of Columbus
was solved by Canadians by making sturdy respectable shelters with
the roofs (somewhat) resembling the Houses of Parliament. Could that
also be the solution for Columbus,
Texas? A small scale replica of the Colorado
County courthouse with a hinged dome for cleaning? - Brewster
Hudspeth |
Parliament as
seen from the viewpoint of the Parliament Hill Cats
TE photo, February 2010 |
|
"Moo"
with a young admirer.
"If you touch me, you'll understand what happiness is."
TE photo, February 2010
|
"Coal"
breakfasts with a black squirrel.
TE photo, February 2010 |
"Coal"
dines al fresco without his squirrel.
TE photo, February 2010 |
"Stray Cats
of the Hill" Story
TE photo, February 2010 |
Approaching Parliament
Hill
TE photo, February 2010 |
Parting look
TE photo, February 2010 |
Friends of Abandoned Pets
While
in Ottawa, our correspondent was introduced to another dedicated group
of volunteers. Friends of Abandoned Pets is a group that not only
feeds and cares for abandoned or feral cats – but dogs, too. In many
cases, this indefatigable group must patiently earn the trust of the
animals and then, after “capture” and medical check-up, find appropriate
homes. As they say: “Matching pets with loving people.” Foster homes
are arranged until a proper match is made – but the organization goes
one step further – to insure that the animal is taken care of for
life. In the event the adopting person can no longer care for the
animal, the group will take it back and find another home. Our correspondent
was introduced to several “success stories,” some of them sporting
a few extra pounds of “success.” |
| Former feral
cat 'Miss Cali' luxuriating in her foster home |
Friends
of Abandoned Pets is a relatively new organization (1992) and they
offer a realistic approach (and solution) to present-day needs. No
shortcuts here – just down-in-the-trenches work with persistence and
patience. Visit their website at: www.foap.on.ca
|
©
John Troesser
"They
Shoe Horses, Don't They?" March
5, 2010 column
Editor's
Note:
All Canada photos by webmaster Kate (“which-button-do-I-press?”) Troesser.
The editor wishes to express his thanks to the Winter Sisters of Ottawa
who took excellent care of the webmaster during her stay there and
aided in the story. All are active members of FOAP. |
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