Long Beach battle of the ferals
A story in today's
Long Beach Press-Telegram focuses on an effort by activists who oppose a plan to remove feral cats from the campus of California State University, Long Beach.
Protesters, including Lucinda Anskin, right, gathered in front of the school Sunday to publicize their cause, holding signs like "SHAME ON CSULB," "CAT KILLERS" and "SAVE OUR CSULB CATS."
Reporter Kelly Puente writes that CSULB officials believe the more than 100 wild cats are providing a food source for hungry coyotes, "which could in turn pose a danger for children at the school's daycare programs and youth summer camps."
Officials want to remove the cats in the next 40 days, but protesters are standing their ground.
"I'll chain myself to kitties if I have to," said Leslie Abrahams, who tends some of the 16 feeding stations on campus. "They're not going to kill our kitties."
Long Beach attorney Henry Salcido is representing the group of cat supporters, called Campus Animal Assistance-Beach Cats. A meeting between the group and school officials is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
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