What to do with all these cats?

To the Editor:

Who can you call if you have a problem with stray cats?

Clay County has a humane shelter. If you call them, they tell you to call the sheriff's department in case of emergency, who in turn tells you to call the humane shelter and the humane shelter is only open three or four days a week.

It's a catch 22 with nowhere to turn for answers. I have at least four cats that have taken up residence in my garage. How are we supposed to deal with this problem in a humane manner? I want no harm to come to them, on the other hand, I don't want them living and breeding and making this an even bigger problem.

The shelter does not accept animals without some kind of fee and I understand that. However, you would think because this is a humane organization, they would be willing to accept strays without some type of fee to ensure the animals are off the streets and have a chance to be adopted into a good home.

I have a live trap to catch them, but then what they would be alive. But still nowhere to take them. So what is the answer to this dilemma?

I remember years ago when the humane shelter drove a van all over town and collected stray animals. Why was this practice eliminated? And if it had to be eliminated, why not replace it with a new policy that allowed people to bring strays to the shelter at no cost?

We all pay taxes. Shouldn't we expect to have solutions to these kinds of problems without paying twice?

Chad McCurry,

Brazil