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Strays on the run as former haven comes under attack

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-28 10:33

A woman feeds stray cats at a park in Shanghai.

Animal lovers are infuriated at how stray toms are being treated at Shanghai Botanic Park, a former cat haven that area residents claim has become a hunting ground for their feline friends.

Their anger has concretized into a new offensive against the park's attendants, who now find themselves trying to sidestep Internet hoaxes and increasing levels of harassment after one netizen claimed that a reward of 10 yuan was being offered for each cat's scalp.

The posting gained such a following that officials had to issue a public denial.

"We never said anything like that," one park official, who preferred to stay anonymous, told China Daily. "We don't plan to drive cats out of the park, nor do we have a budget for that. We've always let them stay here.

"But if their numbers grow too large, visitors do tend to get annoyed," he added.

Common complaints range from the cats' loud meows to fleas, littering and the smell of their rotting food.

The park was closed for renovation work earlier this month, meaning that cat lovers could not head there to feed their favorite strays, 80 to 100 of which reside in the park. When the residents went to the administration to ask for permission to enter, they were turned down.

The Shanghai Small Animals Protection Association has since promised to get the cats neutered. Meanwhile animal lovers have built home for the cats at the park.

The pet group recently gained ground when members were granted access to the park to feed the cat while it remains closed for repairs. But the war on animal abuse is far from over, they said.

Financial constraints mean that animal protection groups in Shanghai do not publicize the addresses of their shelters for fear of overcrowding.

"To be honest we can't afford too many animals," said Zhang. "The SSAPA runs purely on the back of donations, but most people only donate food and basic living costs for the animals. This doesn't cover our running costs."

The outfit also has to shell out for aging animals who no one wants to adopt; it is unable to put the animals down for fear of alienating the group's core base of supporters and thus precipitating its own demise.

"It's impossible for us to terminate them, even when it's hopeless," said Zhang. "That would be the end of the road for us."

An even greater challenge is winning over the hearts and minds of those who think cats and dogs are just yelping, defecating eyesores who mess up the sidewalk.

"I suggest cat lovers show more consideration for public regulations and respect other people's lives," advised Zhang.