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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 20, 2004 Strays at SOU get new homes By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings For 15 years, Peg Stewart has volunteered her time trying to find homes for stray and abandoned cats. From shopping center parking lots to side streets and rural roads, abandoned cats are abundant in Jackson County, she said. Charlie, a stray cat caught by Denny Tullier in the area above Southern Oregon University, is part of a growing problem for residents along Oregon Street. Andrew Mariman | Ashland Daily Tidings "The dumping and overpopulation of cats here is huge," said Stewart, an Ashland resident. "I don't understand the thinking of those [who abandon] cats. It takes a moment to dump them, but it takes so many untold man hours to retrieve and help these animals." A microcosm of these problems can be found in the saga of four cats abandoned by their owner across the street from the Southern Oregon University residence halls on Indiana Street. Denny Tullier, a custodian who works in the SOU residence halls, is trying to find homes for the cats. More than a year ago, a woman he knew lived in a house owned by the university on Indiana Street at Madrone Street. When she moved out, she left her four domesticated cats to fend for themselves. Feeling sorry for them, he began to look after them. He fed the cats and got them neutered. Things changed recently, when the university-owned homes on Indiana Street at Madrone Street were set to be torn down to make way for a new residence hall complex. Concerned the cats could be hiding under the homes and could get hurt, Tullier set out to catch and try to find homes for the cats. He was able to catch three out of four of the cats last week. One, a long black hair cat, was placed with the Committed Alliance to Strays, a no-kill shelter in Medford. Two of the cats, a black and white cat and a long-haired tabby, are being taken care of at an Ashland home. Stewart is looking for homes for the two cats. She has a network of several people who are foster caregivers for approximately 50 cats. The fourth cat has been seen around by Tullier, but has not been caught. "They're not wild cats," he said. "There all lovable and friendly. ... I think people can be reckless and irresponsible with cats. They deserve care and love." While Tullier said he would take them if he could, he is living with a dog he is worried would harm or kill a cat. A serious problem Colleen Macuk, program manager for Jackson County Animal Care and Control, said while the county tries to adopt out as many cats as possible, most have to be put down. In 2003, the shelter received 3,400 cats - the majority wild or sick - and 2,300 were put to sleep. On Thursday, Macuk said they were filled to capacity, with 60 to 70 cats. She said a problem is people thinking the cats they abandoned can fend for themselves. "People just let them go and breed," she said. "We're here to help, but people need to take responsible action." Jan Whetstone, executive director of CATS agreed the problem with abandoned animals is an issue that is at "epidemic" portions here in Jackson County. On Thursday, her office received 35 messages, and 21 of them were to report stray cats. The shelter is also filled to capacity, with 39 cats and kittens. She said a major problem is people not spaying and neutering their animals. "There's too many people who don't think it's necessary and give so many reasons not to," she said. "It amazes me people don't understand they need to spay and neuter their pets." Whetstone is also surprised at the ways people leave their animals. Twice this year, on separate occasions, a cat has been found in a box sealed with duct tape discovered in a trash bin. Both cats were adopted. Recently, a man hiking in a middle of the forest found an abandoned kitten that had almost starved. It is currently in a foster home. For more information on adopting the cats Stewart and her volunteers are trying to find homes for, call Stewart after 9 a.m. on weekends and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays at 482-4889. For more information on Committed Alliance to Strays, call 779-2916. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams