By Christine Haslet
Last Friday, December 20th, in courtroom 63, in downtown San Diego, California ~ the long-awaited verdict was handed down by Judge Katherine Bacal. I sat nearby, as one of the plaintiffs, 82 year old Wendy Aragon from Pet Assistance Foundation wiped a tear from her eye.
The verdict is a culmination of years of work. Local San Diego animal rights attorneys, Parisa Ijad-Maghsoodi and Bryan Pease, founders of the small, but mighty law firm, PeaseLaw.org fought one of the world’s largest law firms, 800 strong, O’Melveny & Meyers on behalf of San Diego’s lost, friendly cats being dumped on the streets to die.
As we sat in the courtroom, it was odd, because after months of seeing groups of attorneys appearing on behalf of their defendants, San Diego Humane Society, not one single attorney appeared in court for the ruling, but instead phoned it in. One single lonely employee sat by herself on the defendants side of the courtroom.
After a lengthy trial, Judge Katherine Bacal ruled that indeed San Diego Humane Society IS violating animal abandonment and protection laws~ specifically Civil Code 597 s by dumping friendly, healthy cats on our San Diego streets by the thousands to die. It was revealed in court that over 18,000 tame, lost cats have been unceremoniously dumped to die on our streets. While the punishment for you or I to dump just one animal, includes a fine of up to $1000 and 6 months in jail, little doubt that anyone from this wealthy, misguided organization will suffer the consequences of this secretive, well coordinated act of mass cruelty.
Additionally, Judge Bacal noted that the City of San Diego, which gives the Humane Society over $20,000,000 a year to care for homeless animals, had no idea of this illegal and inhumane policy.
For a little background:
It’s no secret our animal shelters across the country are in crisis. In a little known policy, shelter directors and their pals across the country devised a plan to “reduce shelter intake”, the main mechanism is to just turn animals away at shelter doors! Mind you, they are still collecting taxpayer money and donations. They have started with cats in communities all over the country, and that is why this is considered such an important, landmark case among animal advocates. Many communities have then moved on to keep dogs from entering the shelters. This has happened in places like El Paso and Memphis, even near Bakersfield. Packs of roaming dogs can be found on the streets.
We heard a vet, expert witness Kate Hurley, brag on the stand that she herself started the “Million Cat Challenge”. Ready for it? DUMP A MILLION LOST, FRIENDLY CATS ON THE STREETS all across the country. Ms Hurley shared she was so delighted because she did it faster than she thought possible and “met her goal early”. Shelters are dumping cats as fast as they can. In the Arizona desert to die, San Bernardino County is doing this. This is failed leadership by any metric, seems we have hired sociopaths to care for our lost animals. San Diego Humane Society and their CEO, Gary Weitzman are part of this trend and failed leadership and were sued for it. Riverside is in the midst of TWO lawsuits over these policies.
We heard in grim detail in court how this masterplan is carried out: When a good samaritan arrives at the shelter with a cat they have found, they are asked to fill out a form with THEIR information and where the cat was found. They are asked to return to the shelter in 24 hours and take the cat back where they found it and dump it. If they refuse, shelter volunteers are asked to dump the cats. Cats are dumped and volunteers just drive away, cats left behind restaurants, along the freeway and canyons where coyotes live.
And that’s not the worst of it, we heard vet Zarah Hedge from SDHS say it’s a 24 hour turnaround. Cats are dumped with fresh wounds, bleeding ear tips, incisions on their nut sack, or abdomen, just hours old. Dumped immediately after the anesthesia wears off. Left with no pain medication or observation. Smelling of fresh blood, dizzy from anesthesia, left with no food, water or pain medications. To die on the streets. And to be very clear, these are NOT FERAL CATS WHO HAVE CAREGIVERS who are fed and monitored.
San Diego Humane Society calls it a “community cat” program. Claim cats “Thrive in their new outdoor homes”. However, they don’t microchip them, or provide ANY follow up. If coyotes get them, they are hit by a car, have horrible dental issues, parasites, too bad for them. One visit to “Next Door” app in any San Diego County neighborhood and you will see dozens of posts about these cats, neighbors finding their bodies, trying to find help for them. Calling rescues. All the while, San Diego Humane Society continues to collect money from taxpayers, millions in donations. In fact, one single night a few months ago they raised 1.5 MILLION dollars at their gala. 990’s tax returns show they have over a $100 million dollars in reserves, why aren’t they doing their job?
And in order to justify their inhumane and cruel actions, they say…. we’d just have to kill the cats ourselves at the shelter otherwise. All these resources, millions of dollars, volunteers, community support and these so-called experts and that is all they can come up with?
SD Humane closed their cat adoption centers in San Diego County in secret and began dumping the cats on the streets in 2019. It almost sounds like a made up story, but we know it to be absolutely true. Perhaps we should begin looking for some REAL leadership with actual creative solutions, leaders who actually love animals and want to help when they are lost and orphaned. Saying the have to kill or dump is nothing more than lazy, failed leadership.
And after the ruling was made within hours San Diego Humane and their director made these comments~ showing utter defiance of the law and the ruling. Showing complete arrogance and disregard for their illegal and inhumane practices. No shame or remorse for all of the cats who have endured a horrible end to their lives.
As a taxpayer of San Diego and founder of a decade old local animal rescue, I think perhaps it is time to find a new director. I for one am sickened at the thought of paying him $37,000 a month with my tax dollars. And after being sued for their complete lack of humanity, arrogance and violation of California animal protection they double down. Apparently, Judge Bacal’s ruling means absolutely nothing to San Diego Humane Society, as they continue to claim they know best. And plan to continue to dump cats to die on our streets. Here is the quote from San Diego Union Tribune, mere hours after the ruling, December 21, 2024:
“We remain unwavering in our belief that this program is the best solution for community cats, and that it is legal under California law,” it said, in part.
“This is only the first chapter in this case, and we expect that a future court will rule differently and understand that the Community Cat Program is both legal and the most humane way to save the lives of cats,” it later added. “In the meantime, the Community Cat Program remains in force as a lifesaving effort for animals in San Diego County.”
I am horrified to read this article, as I have always loved cats and my last one came from the San Diego Humane Society. Others wandered into my yard or were picked from neighbor’s cat litters. I love cats, but can’t care for one at this time. It is my hope that the County of San Diego and City of San Diego penalize the San Diego Humane Society and redirect public funds to agencies who care for life, such as The Cat Lounge in La Jolla. I also hope the City of San Diego District Attorney and California Attorney General investigate what has transpired here and arrest the managers that have been dumping cats into canyons to feed the coyotes and foxes. This is horribly disturbing to me. I mean today is Christmas Eve and what a horrible time to read such public betraya.
Ron: Thank you for taking the time to read and your kind words of compassion for the cats. For those of us who love animals, the situation is hard to understand. The deception of leadership, possibly they were hoping no one would notice? Then, after being caught red handed and even sued they continue to say ~ we only have two choices: we need to kill cats at the shelter or dump them on the streets shows a complete the lack of creative solutions. It’s not like San Diego doesn’t have the resources: money, volunteers, facilities or the will to care for the cats… we’re not a third world country. We know many of the resources are completely misdirected. We could expand the centers, build catios, hold fun adoption events, partner with pet stores to house cats for adoption, create a robust foster program, involve schools, small businesses in a “save the cats” program. So many businesses and community members are currently just giving them blank checks to do as they please. On the positive side, the San Diego Humane IS spaying and neutering cats…. we just feel they shouldn’t be dumped on our streets by the thousands to die.
Utterly disgusting and horrifying!!! Why are they not stopped? Animals have pain!!! Wth
Our thoughts EXACTLY! That is why there was a lawsuit: to raise awareness and to require them to actually follow California animal protection laws. You would think an organization of this size and stature would just do the right thing. But noooooooooooooo…..
It’s unbelievable to me that an organization who considers themselves to be humane would engage in such cruelty. There are at least 10 employees at SDHS who make over 6 figures. It’s astounding that this “nonprofit” has millions of dollars and yet the only solution that they can come up with to the cat overpopulation problem is to dump the cats or to kill them.. For years, SDHS told the public to keep their cats inside because outdoor cats only live 2 years on the average and often die a horrific and slow painful death. San Diego Humane Society did their best to confuse the public about the difference between a feral cat who can live outside and thrive versus a friendly and adoptable cat. if something should happen to me, I hope that my cats are put to sleep humanely as opposed to being dumped on the streets to fend for themselves.
Bravo to everyone fighting for the lives of these animals. We are finding so many on the streets in awful condition and wonder if they were also dumped. Just no way to know if theyre not chipped. How can they justify taking our money and doing such a horrific act? I hope the people see this for what it is, animal cruelty on our dime!
Gina ~Thank you for caring about the orphaned kitties and commenting! You are 100% right. FOLLOW THE MONEY. San Diego Humane collects $69,000,000 …..yes, $69 million dollars from our community via tax money, donations, galas, fun runs and “contracts” with other cities to care for lost, orphaned animals… including cats.
IMHO this is a form of fraud~ secretly closing the adoption centers, dumping 18,000 friendly cats to their deaths. They know exactly what they are doing. Emails were revealed in court about their concerns about donor backlash from Brian Daugherty (their marketing dude)~ IF this were to be exposed. They don’t care about the cruelty, the fact it is illegal, but instead they care about DONOR BACKLASH. They even designed a script for employees to read to those who might call the shelter in horror about this cat dumping scheme. Judge Bacal also mentioned in her ruling.. they hid this from San Diego City when they accepted $20,000,000 to care for the animals.
So now they’ve been sued, EXPOSED and they are doubling down on this illegal policy. Looks like they may take it to the CA Supreme court. Why? Why waste a bunch of time and money, and now more and more and more animal lovers will know about their cruelty and deception. At the end of the day ~the law is the is the law. Their creepy, inhumane policies do not override the law…. and the longer this goes on, the more people will know.
I hope donors are paying attention. Those who want to help animals in San Diego could donate to the small neighborhood cat and dog rescues, who actually LOVE ANIMALS, are mostly volunteers and would spend their own last dime to help an animal need. These monsters are showing us who they truly are.
#FireGaryWeitzman #SanDiegoHumaneSocietyLies
Thank you taking the time to EDUCATE the community about the ongoing inhumane practice occurring across our state in violation of law. Their so called “expert” witness for SDHS, Kate Hurley, UC Koret , received $50 million in California taxpayer funds in 2021 to help reduce euthnasia in shelters. Her junk science “innovative “ solution was to reduce intake of animals and therefore euthanasia by advising shelters like SDHS to violate Ca laws by turning helpless animals away at shelter doors.
SDHS et al, believe they are above the law as do most shelter Directors who’ve run these shelters as like authoritarian governments. 25 years after Haydens law was enacted to protect animals and they are still ignoring its dictates. With the help of Fix Our Shelters Coalition members like Lucky Pup and their Founder Christine Haslet, and Pet Assistance Foundation we will continue to change this dynamic. We can and will continue to fight against this blatant corruption. And we will win.
Excellent Article Christine,
Thank you for being such a fierce voice and advocate for the animals and making sure San Diegans are aware of what is going on at their municipal tax payer funded shelter.
It was a good, good day!
The Truth Won
The Facts Won
The Law Won
And Most Importantly The Healthy, Friendly, Adoptable, Non Feral Cats Won.
Front Page Cover San Diego Union Tribune!
It is behind a paywall the article states:
Judge rules San Diego Humane Society’s policy of returning cats to community violates law
The decision is a victory for the animal rights groups and people who sued over the Community Cats Program
The San Diego Humane Society’s policy of turning away domesticated cats roaming outside and instead returning them back to where they were found without ensuring they have a caretaker violates the law, a judge ruled Friday.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal’s decision following a bench trial is a victory for the animal rights groups and people who sued the organization, alleging its policy fails to take in the friendly, adoptable cats — which may be stray or abandoned — that people find and bring to the shelter, and instead routes the animals to a program for unowned, outdoor cats.
Bacal also said the agency’s policy of assessing only kittens brought to them — as opposed to all cats — to determine how social they are is “too narrow.”
What happens next is a question. Attorneys Bryan Pease and Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi, who represented the plaintiffs, said the ruling means the San Diego Humane Society will now be required to take in domesticated cats. The San Diego Humane Society said that until it gets further clarification from the court, the program will remain in place without changes.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys argued at trial — which lasted 12 days spanning several months — that the shelter abandons domesticated cats in violation of the law, and that releasing them to live outdoors without people ensuring their well-being puts them in danger. The suit accused the San Diego Humane Society — which handles animal control services for San Diego and several other cities — of violating the state’s unfair business practices statute.
Ijadi-Maghsoodi said the verdict is an “excellent outcome for the cats and for the plaintiffs.” Pease said the decision “is major for the cats that are falling through the cracks. But by no means is this dismantling their whole Community Cat Program, nor was that ever the intention.”
In court documents, the San Diego Humane Society argued the program is science-based, developed by professionals and best for cats that would otherwise suffer in shelter cages. According to trial testimony, the two biggest objectives of the program are to ensure the health and well-being of the cats, and to stabilize and reduce the cat population.
In a statement after the verdict, the San Diego Humane Society said it stands behind the science of its Community Cats Program.
We remain unwavering in our belief that this program is the best solution for community cats, and that it is legal under California law,” it said, in part.
“This is only the first chapter in this case, and we expect that a future court will rule differently and understand that the Community Cat Program is both legal and the most humane way to save the lives of cats,” it later added. “In the meantime, the Community Cat Program remains in force as a lifesaving effort for animals in San Diego County.”
In issuing her ruling, Bacal said she was aware that everyone who testified “wants what they believe is best for the cat population and cats in general.” The difference she said, results from diverging points of view — the organization coming at it from a shelter cat population perspective and the plaintiffs considering the animals with which they had come into contact.
“It is not the court’s obligation to decide what is best for the animals,” Bacal said. “The only obligation is to decide what is lawful.”
Under the Community Cats Program, if a healthy cat is found and brought to the organization, staffers look for proof of ownership such as a collar or microchip. If they establish it is or has been owned, the cat goes into the shelter. If no verified ownership is found, the animal is routed into the program, where cats are sterilized, vaccinated, given preventative treatments, have an ear clipped to mark them, and then are returned outdoors to the area where they were found.
The program started as a pilot but has been fully in place since March 2021. More than 18,000 animals in the region have been labeled community cats.
Pease argued that the standard of proof of prior ownership was too high. “Requiring this insurmountable ‘verifiable’ proof standard that a cat was recently owned or abandoned means that a lot of cats are being just dumped back out there without caretakers,” he said Friday.
One contentious issue was over the determination of how the animal is faring living outdoors. If the cat has an acceptable body weight, then the assumption may be that it’s finding enough food. But, Pease argued, what about cats that are newly stray or abandoned?
There was also the question of the found cat’s temperament. San Diego Humane Society attorneys argued that friendliness is not correlated with ownership, rather just indicative of prior positive interactions with humans.
The law distinguishes between domesticated and feral cats. There is no dispute between the parties over trapping, spaying or neutering and then releasing feral cats, which are unsocialized.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/12/21/judge-rules-san-diego-humane-societys-policy-of-returning-cats-to-community-violates-law/
Let’s not also forget how San Diego Humane Society tried to hide what they were doing to the friendly cats.
San Diego Humane Society Fought The Law And The Law Won!!
Internal emails revealed during the trial showed concerns within SDHS leadership about potential public backlash if their practices became widely known.
That practice would be RTF aka dumping cats for stats and labeling healthy, friendly, non feral, adoptable cats as community cats.
The judge also admonished SDHS because she said she looked over the $20 million dollar contract SDHS signed with the cities and in those contracts SDHS states they will take in the strays from those cities and the judge reaffirmed SDHS must take in and care for those stray animals.
Judge Rules Against San Diego Humane Society’s Community Cat Program
Landmark Ruling Sends Ripples Through Animal Welfare Practices Nationwide.
A California court has issued a landmark ruling that could reshape how shelters across the country manage free-roaming cats. Judge Katherine Bacal ruled against the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) on Friday (12/20/24), finding that its practice of releasing friendly, adoptable cats under its Community Cat Program (CCP) violates California animal protection laws, including Hayden’s Law. The decision underscores the legal and ethical obligations of shelters to care for stray and abandoned animals and raises critical questions about the future of animal welfare policies nationwide.
At the heart of the case was whether SDHS’s policy of categorizing adoptable cats as “community cats” and releasing them outdoors constitutes illegal abandonment. Plaintiffs, represented by attorney Bryan Pease, argued that SDHS failed in its duty to provide proper care for these animals, instead shifting responsibility onto communities ill-equipped to handle the burden. SDHS defended its program as a humane solution to shelter overcrowding and a model for reducing euthanasia rates.
Victory for Accountability
The court’s decision sends a strong message to shelters nationwide: releasing friendly cats into potentially dangerous environments is not an acceptable solution to overpopulation. Plaintiffs alleged that SDHS recategorized thousands of adoptable cats as “community cats,” releasing them outdoors where they faced risks such as starvation, predation by coyotes, traffic accidents, and human cruelty.
“This ruling affirms that shelters cannot simply wash their hands of responsibility by calling these animals ‘community cats’”, said Pease. It’s a victory for transparency and accountability in shelter practices.”
The case also brought attention to SDHS’s financial resources. Despite receiving millions in taxpayer dollars and private donations annually, plaintiffs argued that SDHS prioritized cost-cutting measures over humane solutions, such as high-volume spay/neuter programs or adoption initiatives.
https://animalpolitics.substack.com/p/judge-rules-against-san-diego-humane?r=14ocm4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
Wow, zero audit, zero accountability, zero compassion. I saw this in early 2000’s in an NC shelter I took over. 21% adoption rate by the non-profit that was running the shelter. Kittens were being kept in a shed out back to freeze to death, and shelter protocols and standards were non-existent. I had to research and stand up every policy, program, and SOP from soup to nuts to be in compliance with the State Vet’s Office, which by the way this shelter had several previous inspection failures and zero follow-up inspections them. The USDA is supposed to have a role, they don’t do zip. Euthanization sweeps before long holidays such as TG in order to be in and out with minimal animals to care for. Whole cat rooms euthanized if one cat had the runs, etc. Disgusting people running this place until we fired them all with long lists of citations. Layers of government is what fails these animals, someone always thinks someone else is addressing it when in reality, no one is.
Donna: Your post was heartbreaking to read. You are correct, if we continue to have, as you say “disgusting people” (and that’s putting it kindly) running our shelters, nothing will change. We see it over and over, instead of animal lovers, the shelters attract and hire basic sociopaths with zero accountability for their cruelty. And when they are finally fired, they just move to another shelter, much like the Catholic priests who abused children.
In California, we are building a coalition of concerned taxpayers, animal advocates, rescues and volunteers to address the current horrific crises. We are exposing and building awareness about the inhumane, authoritarian shelter management, blatant violations of animal protect laws by filing multiple lawsuits and exposing their hypocrisy to donors and the community all across California. People just don’t know. We shocked that people don’t know what San Diego Humane Society has been doing with kittens and cats since 2019, dumping them on the streets. Taxpayers are demanding TRANSPARENCY.
It is a crises situation and the shelters have actually contributed by not embracing spay and neuter, by following a cruel and illegal “reduced shelter intake” policy that locks animals from the shelters, mismanaging millions and harassing and retaliating against rescue groups and volunteers and violating animal protection laws daily. As bad as it sounds, we are hopeful if enough people stand up for animals, we can make things safer from homeless animals. It’s crazy that we kill animals in a few days because they are homeless, we are better than that. At least I like to think so…..
Whatever happened to “Friends of Cats”? I used to contribute years ago, because they had a protect-cat philosophy.
Thank you to pro bono, attorneys,
Parisa Ijad-Maghsoodi and Bryan Pease for opposing the cruel
policies of the San Diego Humane Society, and Chris Haslet, for her truthful report on San Diego Humane Society’s inhumane practice of cat dumping. (issue: 12/21/24)
First, we have to face the fact that typical bureaucrats look for ways to make money, and do no work. That’s what we have at San Diego Humane. To the devoted employees and volunteers who sincerely care about animals-please take no offense.
When I brought up the issue (in print), one upset volunteer denied that it was happening, but then railed: “Well, what do you want to do, just kill them all?” While I am not at all pleased with that solution, let me tell you exactly what life is like for dumped cats-
up until they die on the streets:
(The) constant exposure to the elements, extreme, hot and cold temperatures, thirst, hunger, starvation, open wounds, internal injuries, severe bodily disease, fleas & mange, pregnancy, and birth.
Plunged into unfamiliar surroundings, the pet is terrified of cars, loud sounds, people, and predators. Cats are chased and attacked by both of those groups. There is no safe place for her;
she’s constantly on guard, constantly in pain, exhausted, and desperate.
As humans, how would WE face these conditions? Yet, we arrogantly condemn vulnerable cats to this suffering. So YES There IS something
WORSE THAN EUTHANASIA.
Shelters complain about having too many pets. Why do we have so many? It’s obvious that there aren’t enough homes for them, otherwise known as Pet Overpopulation. There has always been a solution to this: it is the aggressive implementation of low, to no–cost SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS.
It must be an all–out targeted approach, that includes the participation & expertise of nonprofit rescues and individuals. But look at what San Diego Humane has done…
For years, it has slammed any mention of this most obvious solution…and doing it in the face of pleading, animal welfare groups and devoted rescuers!
With Cat Dumping, SD Humane has totally abdicated its responsibility to protect vulnerable animals, by choosing a corporate approach, perfect for lazy bureaucrats:
An overflowing shelter? Return those cats to the streets. Want more donations? Call yourselves a “No Kill” shelter. Want a high-paying job with no oversight? Become CEO of San Diego Humane Society and make around $445,000 a year….And after a court judge ruled that SDH UTTERLY FAILED TO ABIDE BY THEIR CITY CONTRACT- they doubled down on their illegal Cat Dumping policy! All the while, quietly collecting $20 mil per year for their “services.”
NO, SDH HAS PROVEN BEYOND A DOUBT THAT IT WON’T RISE to the
IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES
for the care and protection of our cats.
SD citizens and pet owners don’t want the current administration, or people like them, to be in charge of our domestic animals Ever Again!
City Government: It’s time for action!
STOP Cat Dumping NOW!
What will it take for the CEO to be ousted. After all, the CEO violated the law! Then admits to not stopping what they are doing cuz they only paid a fine since it’s pennies to them considering how much they are paid. My brother, who absolutely adores cats, has donated a WHOLE LOT OF MONEY to the SDHS and it’s going to break his heart when I inform him what they have been doing. It makes me sick that the higher ups are getting rich for doing NOTHING but sit on their lazy asses and delegating their “dirty work” to volunteers. And by OUR donations. Any involved in this should be fired. And that CEO who admitted that he plans on being a “Repeat Offender.” Should be gone!!! Who can someone such as myself contact to put that ball in motion? And who is a reputable actual rescuer and lover of animals organization to donate to since we have come to find out that SDHS is a concentration camp for animals. God sees all and I can just imagine what’s in store for those haters.
Evelyn
I couldn’t agree with you more!
Why, hands-on rescuers ask hasn’t SD Humane Society made the move to end Pet Overpopulation, through low to no-cost spay and neuter clinics?
For years, the Humane Society has resisted, the most obvious solution, aggressive, spaying, and neutering.
With the city’s yearly fee, and copious donations, SDH should’ve been leading the charge, instead of relying on poor individuals and penniless rescue groups! If SDH HAD DONE ITS JOB, PET-OVER POPULATION WOULD be a THING OF THE PAST.
This is regrettable, and shows the gross callousness and incompetence of this organization. What arrogance, to sit back and allow widespread suffering of innocent animals!
Get them all out! Get experienced rescuers in! City government: Cancel your contract with Humane Society and seek out rescue groups. Your $20mil will go a lot farther!
There are many virtuous rescue groups that need your help.
Reroute your donations from SDH to other rescue groups. One very hard working cat rescue: The Rescue House.
Jan – You are absolutely 100% right! We have a misguided system with zero transparency and people who are working— just to maintain job security?
How come you’re not scooping up all the friendly stray cats? This article isn’t thorough in covering the case. I’ve tried to get full details over the past year, but all I find are polemic smears against the opposition. Brains are lost, reasoning ability is absent, and the cats suffer because of the stupidity on both sides. But from the polemics, I’ve pieced together what the apparent facts are: There are cats in a community in San Diego that roam freely. The community of cats includes sexually intact cats that produce dozens more kittens each year, and the kittens produce kittens, and so on. Kittens become sexually mature anywhere from 4-6 months of age. Cats naturally form into colonies or clowders, and these quickly grow in population where the cats are sexually intact. Cats that live in colonies away from humans nearly always exhibit feral behavior. It’s not a breed or a trait handed down through the generations, it’s a matter of socialization. Such cats learn from their mamas how to hunt and find food. Other colonies are located near humans. If the humans are cruel, the cats are mistreated and struggle to survive on garbage. If the mama learned how to hunt, she teaches her babies. If she didn’t learn how to hunt, she can’t teach the skill. Kittens grow up getting food the way Mama taught. There’s very little innovation in food-seeking behavior. But if the human community is friendly to free roaming cats, and feed them, the cats are socialized to humans. To the untrained, inexperienced human mind, i.e. to the naive, these appear to be abandoned pets, formerly house cats, heartlessly thrust out the door or taken to a random spot where they’re dumped. All because they learned from their mamas to trust humans, so they’re friendly to people. There are ways to tell if a cat is a lost pet, or currently owned and allowed to free roam, and one way is to interview neighbors about the history of when they first saw each cat. Humans who care for community cats pay attention. But often the humans don’t have the resources to take cats in for spay and neuter to curb the population explosion. That gets expensive trying to feed all of them. So when the Humane Society of San Diego stepped in to assist a community of humans to take care of the colony cats by TNR efforts, an organization that advocates for euthanizing the free roaming cats filed an expensive law suit using donations from unwitting, often elderly cat-compassionate humans, all in the guise of ethical treatment of animals. Knowing that a ruling in their favor would result in the deaths of community cats and the perpetuation of leaving free roaming cats sexually intact to ever increase the cat population, they justified themselves as virtuous, and smeared the Humane Society and the people who feed the community cats as the wicked ones. Knowing that they were causing hardship for the less-affluent who feed the cats and who try to provide homemade health care for sick and injured free roaming cats, that “poor little guy law firm” used every trick to fight for the deaths of the cats and the emotional distress of the overwhelmed humans who take care of them. To do so, they argued for a change in the definition of “abandonment.” The basic definition of abandonment has been to send a cat that you owned outdoors without water, food, or shelter. You can even own an outdoor cat that has never been inside your home, but if you fail to provide water, food, and shelter, you can be charged with abandonment. But the judge changed the definition. So now, the underserved humans, the disempowered, the disenfranchised, have lost their only recourse to assistance with the cats in their community. All because of a well-funded organization that wants cats dead. That’s what the organization is openly advocating. They openly state that cats are better off dead than living outdoors. And there are arguments about cats being an invasive predator that exterminates native wildlife, but those arguments weren’t brought up in this case, so I won’t counter it here, except to note that friendly community cats don’t hunt. I’ve read through the comments, and the slant in the article fooled the naive cat-compassionate. Both sides are guilty of leaving out the facts, so the cats and their caregivers suffer.