" Jim, this is twice in the last two weeks that we are on the same side of an issue. Weird...

Your land sounds wonderful. "

" Mr. Clark,

Thank you for writing that. It's horrible to hear about this kind of thing; and I hope those who are doing it read this article.
How is it so hard to atleast post the kitties on petfinder.com, or even on craigslist. Be responsible, and not so cold. "

" Very important article -- thank you! We have taken in a few cats ourselves; although they have been a gift to us & we've valued them for their companionship, we could not keep all who have come around. So some suffer in relative silence, feral but still hoping for a handout, some are killed by predators (as one of my young adoptees was), and one ended up at the animal shelter, unsocialized but presumably adopted as a barn cat. I wish people could have the same compassion for animals that they ostensibly have for other human beings. "

" The last I heard, the great majority of cats relinquished to the animal 'shelter' are euthanized.... "

" Dwayne: Euthanized is not the same as being horribly killed and and eaten by coyote, mountain lion, skunk, raccoon, skunk, buzzards etc.

The predators find better feeding near inhabited areas where animals are dropped off by people who are thoughtless and irresponsible. "

" Jim, thank you for addressing this issue. The way people treat animals often reflects the way they treat their own species. And that's a warning to anyone who thinks a person who abandons animals is going to snap out of it someday. People who abandon pets most likely grow up to abandon their own offspring on some level. Certainly there are others who witnessed this abandonment. So if you are a girlfriend/boyfriend of someone doing this, be forewarned.

Also, there are low/no cost spay/neuter services available to low income people. If you can deliver kittens to the woods, you can deliver their mother to the clinic. Use your brain. "

" Mr. Clark,

Excellent essay. Thank you for sharing. You communicated an important message while providing very interesting reading. I think I enjoyed reading about your animal close encounters more than anything else in the paper today.

Doug Pharr "

" GregN: Contrary to popular propagands, we Conservatives are not heartless nor without souls. Thank you for you comments. "

" It is so sad to read Jim Clark's tale of abandoned kittens. It just makes me sick. I, too, have seen this and it is very tragic. Domestic animals cannot make it in the wild and they should never have to try. These animals are the victims; they are not the perpetrators yet, the best they might get is to be transported to the county 'shelter' where, upon their arrival, another animal will be slated for euthanasia. I will never understand how people can be so heartless and cruel; or why it is so difficult for some people to act responsibly by SPAYING and NEUTERING their cats and dogs.

Thank you, Jim, for at least caring for some of these poor kittens. I just took in 5 who were abandoned in the park where I am on business for a year; another state half a continent away yet, the same sad pathetic situation.

Will people never learn? Or care enough to change?

One can only hope. "

" Jim: You're right. One of my best friends is a conservative, and he is very kind to animals. Loves birds, especially. I think compassion is a commonality we can't shake off, no matter our other differences. Too bad it is so often invisible, or dormant! "

" Dwayne, where did you hear that from? I have adopted many animals from the shelter, and it has always been their goal in the last 10 years, (maybe more) to adopt out all animals who were not to diseased, or violent to a good home. I adopted a cat they had kept for a year and a half. I think you are off base on your comment. AND PLEASE everyone spay your pets. If you cannot be a responsible pet owner then do not own a pet!!!! "