HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.013 2024-2026From: Sandra Alstrand
Sent: Monday, July 7, 2025 7:51 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony on Bill 51
My name is Sandra Alstrand and I oppose Bill 51 which would make it a crime to feed community cats on county
property. I have worked for years with animal rescue organizations and feed a colony of community cats as well. In
a maintained colony, we feed the cats on a regular schedule and remove any food and dishes after feeding. We
also trap, neuter and return all cats to the colony, except those that are tame and can be adopted out. These cats
are not our enemy, as this bill seems to imply. They are cats that were abandoned by people, either their owners or
people who don't want them on their property. This is a despicable practice, however, there really are no
alternatives for these poor cats. Our animal control does not take in cats from the community as drop-offs and our
sanctuaries are full. Until we address the problem of overpopulation with more free spay and neuter clinics, we
will always have an overpopulation of cats (and dogs).
This bill does not help. Who is going to enforce this ordinance? Will the amount of kind and caring feeders startto
hinder ourjudicial system? This would be a frivolous waste of resources when our law enforcement people have
more dangerous and pressing issues to address.
There are so many other issues to address to talk about why this bill is wrong, most importantly, starving sentient
beings is cruel. This is not aloha, this is cruelty, and we do not want this type of cruelty to tarnish our lovely state's
reputation.
Thankyou.
Comm. o �'
Ref. To:
Ref. Date e