Letter to Animal Control Division Administrator of Animal Control Shelter in Howard County, Maryland about Winkie the Cat

Ms. Baracco,

I was shocked and dismayed to learn tonight that there is a cat, Winkie, in your Animal Control Shelter in Howard County. This cat is friendly and there is evidence to support that. However, this cat is also afraid and like most animals when they are afraid, they can be a bit defensive when they perceive threats. This does not make this cat aggressive. The woman that turned Winkie in regrets this after realizing later that the shelter was a kill shelter and plans to kill Winkie on March 3. Ever since, she's been trying to get him out. There is a rescue group, Companion Animal Rescue Alliance, which is ready to take him in and find him a home, to rehabilitate him if necessary since the Animal Control Shelter seems worried about aggression. There is even a woman who is in an ideal position to take him in, who is a relative of the woman who turned him in in the first place, and wants to adopt him.

However, despite all of this the Animal Control Shelter has taken the unethical stance that despite the fact that there are facilities and an adoptive care giver who would like to take Winkie in and spare his life, that they would instead rather just kill the poor cat on March 3. This is unethical because there is NO REASON that this animal should have to be killed. It is not an overcrowding issue, because the cat has people who want to immediately take him in. It is not an aggression issue, because if there was an aggression issue the Companion Animal Rescue Alliance has already said they will work to rehabilitate him if it should turn out that he is, indeed, aggressive.

I find it extremely disturbing that the Animal Control Shelter in Howard County would rather kill an animal than relinquish it to a facility and adoptive caregiver who can and will give it a chance at life, a stable and good home, etc. This is beyond unethical. This is beyond inhumane. It borders on sadistic. There is no reason to kill this cat, as it stands.

Please, look into this matter thoroughly and do the right thing, the humane thing, the ethical thing. Order the Animal Control Shelter of Howard County to hand Winkie over to the Companion Animal Rescue Alliance so that he may have a chance at life. He might just be a cat, but his life matters, too. There is no reason he should have to die, so please don't let him be killed for no reason.

Thank you,

Traci Miller