ANIMAL PEOPLE is the
leading independent newspaper providing original investigative coverage
of animal protection worldwide. Founded in 1992, ANIMAL PEOPLE has
no alignment or affiliation with any other entity.
Becky
Louise, 14, among the last survivors of the 1991-1992 ANIMAL PEOPLE test
of neuter/return feral cat control in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut,
died peacefully and unexpectedly on March 26. She was one of two indistinguishable
littermates who were named after Alley Cat Allies cofounders Becky Robinson
and Louise Holton. As the owner of the apartment complex where the cats
were trapped did not want them returned, and they were not adoptable because
they could not be handled, Becky and Louise were among 21 cats from the
neuter/ return test who were evacuated in July 1992 to the first ANIMAL
PEOPLE headquarters near Shushan, New York, along with 10 previously rescued
cats. In August 1992 a female coyote who had lost a front paw, probably
in escaping from a leghold trap, ate nine of the feral cats, in as many
days. As either Becky or Louise was among the coyote victims, but we did
not know which, the survivor became Becky Louise. Becky Louise then moved,
by her choice, into the house from the basement with outdoor access that
had been been adapted into a habitat for the ferals. Relocated with ANIMAL
PEOPLE and all the other surviving cats in 1996 to Clinton, Washington,
Becky Louise never tamed, never groomed herself, and required heavy sedation
before her squirrel-sized mats could be shaved off. Probably because of
her poor hygiene, Becky Louise had low status among the cats, though she
was tolerated by all. Since the death of her twin sister, Becky Louise
had only one close friend, Miriam, another shy feral whom ANIMAL PEOPLE
rescued in 2003. Among the 320 cats involved in the 1991-1992 Connect-icut
project, the known survivors are Sombra and Punto, kept by ANIMAL PEOPLE
webmaster Patrice Greanville, and Rosalba, Peetee, and Sylvie, still with
ANIMAL PEOPLE. There may be other survivors among the 45 cats who were
adopted out. To our awareness, the last of the 237 cats who were returned
to their habitat either died or were tamed and adopted by mid-1995.
Bujji,
a canine cofounder of the Visakha SPCA in Visakhapatnam, India, died on
March 18 from kidney failure. Daughter of John Kennedy, the rescued dog
(deceased in 1998) who inspired Pradeep Kumar Nath to start the Visakha
SPCA, Bujji was adopted out once, "but on seeing that she was mistreated
and left to starve, I brought her back," Nath wrote. "She was
a symbol of peace and unity. She would not allow fights among our dogs.
She would run to any animal we rescued and give care just like a parent.
We cannot forget her and will not."
