Craig Daily Press / Dena Thompson: Please control pets

July 2, 2008

To the editor:

I consider a pet owner anyone who has responsibility for an animal. I would like to thank the “pet owners” who never take care of their pets and allow them to roam at night causing problems for their neighbors.

For the past few years, I have cleaned up urine and cat messes. Your cats managed to spray my windows, flowers pots, front and back doors, entire patio, grill and anything else they were able to back up to.

I had a cat. I cared a great deal for my cat. I brushed him, took him to the vet for his shots, cuddled with him at night, talked to him, made sure he had plenty of food and water. He wasn’t just my cat, he was my buddy, and I loved him.

My cat never was outside unless I was, and he had a 7 p.m. curfew at night. He was never left out at night to become someone else’s problem. Thanks to the roaming cats of my neighbors, whether barn cats or their family pet, I no longer have a cat. I put mine to sleep last night. He started spraying the inside of my home while your cat was busy spraying the outside. After many attempts of trying to chase your cats off at all hours of the night and trying to trap them, nothing would break my cat from spraying after he started.

So when you think it is ok to let your pet roam as long as it comes home in the morning, it isn’t. Oh, and his name was Willy.

Dena Thompson