Feral cats stink up Hyde Park

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN)--Dozens of unhealthy feral cats are stinking up the Hyde Park neighborhood, with neighbors saying an entire street smells like a litter box.

"There is an odor coming from the property," said home owner Alejandra Rodriguez "You can see cats they are obviously sick, weak. They have open wounds on their bodies, and some of them are missing eyes."

The cats live outside an empty house along Ellingson Street in Central Austin. The homeowner did not want to be identified, but told KXAN Austin News he inherited the cat colony from his mother and didn't know what to do with them. He welcomed the help of the city.

Animal Control was last out in 2006. At that time, the department attempted to get all teh cats vaccinated. Pulliam said she thought he had gotten all the cats spayed or neutered.

But neighbors say there are plenty of kittens. Animal Control said they will be sending officers out to assess the situation in the next few days. Also, the City of Austin has new funding to help curb the feral cat population.

Austin launches "Don't Pity the Kitty" campaign for summer.

The Austin Humane Society is trying to raise $15,000 to spay and neuter cats. You can find out more about the effort at their website .

Take the City's Animal Cruelty Identification and Reporting class.

PURPOSE: Developed in conjunction with the ASPCA, this Austin based Animal Cruelty Training is designed to teach participants how to identify and report animal cruelty.

WHO: All citizens are encouraged to take this class.

RELEVANCE: There is a link between animal cruelty and domestic violence and other serious crimes. Young people, who later offend as adults, often start with animals. We feel strongly that if people are informed, know what to look for, and how to report it, the whole community benefits.

HOW TO REGISTER: Registration is required to attend the class. Register here.

Help make Austin a Humane community for its animals and its people, join other concerned citizens in learning what you can do to help prevent animal cruelty.

Town Lake Animal Center provides a number of animal-related services to Austin and Travis County, including Animal Protection & Control, a Pet Lost & Found, Pet Adoptions, Pet Registration , and Rabies Quarantine.

For more information about this program, to make an appointment to bring cats to an upcoming clinic, or to make a donation, please contact the Feral Cat Program Coordinator, Leticia Stivers:
e-mail: lstivers@austinhumanesociety.org
Phone: 512-646-PETS (7387) ext. 245

Austin Humane Society
124 West Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
Phone: 512-646-PETS (7387)
http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/