Feeding the stray cats of Swieqi
I am the cat feeder whom Marie Wagner attacked in her letter (Cat Feeding Practice Getting Out Of Hand, September 25). Mrs Wagner and the friend she mentions each rent an apartment in a block of flats. Their so-called garden is a small corner in the common area where they have planted a few flowers. It is a few metres away from a field where I feed eight stray cats. The field does not touch their rented property.
The truth is that the cats used to come to their so-called garden from the field long before I started feeding them. They never bothered to do anything to control the situation. I was the one who caught all the cats and neutered them to stop them from multiplying, dedicating hours of patience.
Mrs Wagner attacked me because she saw a few flies in the area. What does she expect the cats to do, knock on people’s doors and ask if they can use their toilet? This is a small price we have to pay for taking over the land which God also intended for them. We have built everywhere. Where will they live?
As for her complaint about rats, it is hard for me to believe that rats will go into a field where cats are hungry and waiting for their food.
I will continue to do what I am doing, keeping the area as clean as possible to make sure I abide by the law and I will continue to abide by Christ’s teaching and feed the hungry, even if they are the least of the animal species, for in Christ’s words “What you do with the least among you, you will be doing with me”.
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James A. Tyrrell
Oct 15th 2010, 23:37
Well said Martha.
Martha Kane
Oct 14th 2010, 19:51
PART 2
Apart from all this we also take the heartbreaking decision of removing very sick cats from the colony which are put to sleep in order to keep the others and your area disease free . We invest in good quality food which does not attract flies and does not smell. There is nothing illegal about feeding near the street Ms Wagner since that's were these cats have been forced to live . People like us have homes full of cats which we took in to appease people like you but we cannot turn our backs on those left behind ,some still wearing the pretty collars that their owners bought for them before they were kicked out. We will go on doing what we're doing whether you like it or not ,so water your flowers Ms Wagner but make no mistake , behind these cats there is an army of docile but dedicated people ready to defend the rights of these creatures so I would advise you to try and fit into the big picture and leave Mr Agius alone
Martha Kane
Oct 14th 2010, 19:47
PART 1
I have so much to say to you Ms Wagner but you are wrong on so many points that I don't know where to begin but here goes.
First of all dear lady , people like us ( cat feeders) are called colony caretakers and we do not go around in a clandestine way otherwise
you would not have found out that it's Mr Agius who is feeding the cats.Most of us are very busy people ,some with health issues but who still find time for Gods creatures .Our function is not only to feed, but we are part of a national trap-neuter- and release programme which is funded by several organizations including the state who incidentally has just inaugurated a hospital which caters primarily for stray animals .Now I ask you Ms Wagner , what sense would there be for the state to pay for this programme if we are then going to starve them to death as is your wish ?
joseph agius
Oct 12th 2010, 21:29
And, hey presto! You're now a millionaire, Ms. Wagner. Pity there are so few cats around to piss on your bouquet. So start collecting right now before someone else takes all that urine away from you!
And as for the rats, there's nothing to worry about, I assure you. Not even Speedy Gonzales would be able to make it through that little army of furry guards.
And after all that hard work, I think you deserve a holiday, Ms. Wagner. Try Afghanistan or Iraq. I'm sure they'll welcome you with open arms.
joseph agius
Oct 12th 2010, 21:12
It's not fair! All these comments are too much in Mr. Agius' favour and so I'd like to balance things a bit and put in a good word for Ms. Wagner.
The way I see it, it's all about urine on some flowers.In fact Ms. Wagner is pissed with piss.
But let's look on the bright side. Ms. Wagner, you'd be surprised what you can do with a little urine these days. Urine has been used for centuries as a medicinal. With the current exorbitant prices of pharmaceuticals, you can make a fortune if you set your mind on putting it to good use so start collecting it in little bottles.
Urine has also been used in the manufacture of gunpowder. So take my advice and make some more money out of it instead of letting it go to waste. Join the arms race.
You can also use it to prepare textiles for dyeing - more income coming your way. And that's not all. If the allies in World War 1 used it as an antidote against chlorine gas, what's to stop you from using it yourself to save the world from Chemical Warfare and cash in more money?
Liam Kelly
Oct 12th 2010, 09:08
Good on you David... Keep up the good work with the beautiful cats
leo attard
Oct 11th 2010, 21:24
keep up the good work, Dave. Mrs Wagner can get products to put in the small garden she has and it helps to keep the cats away. let's be humane.
Isabella Peresso Fiorentino
Oct 11th 2010, 21:13
Keep up the good work you do for the strays Mr Aguis and ignore these so-called Christians.
Paula Grima
Oct 11th 2010, 19:38
David, you are a star! Well done,and thank
you for being a kind human being.The world
would be a better place if there were more like
you. Ignore these silly people who complain
about a few flies. These poor animals would
starve if we didn't feed them, did they ask to
be born.
Maria Wagner,shame on you for complaining
about a few flies. Find it in your heart to have
a little compassion for our little furry friends.
joe falzon
Oct 11th 2010, 19:37
RIGHT ON, MR. AGIUS!!!! WELL SAID!!! my wife and i do the same with the stray cats on our street, and we dish out the euros to feed 12 strays. if you don't feed them, they'll just go hungry and prowl and hunt uncontrollably, sneaking into houses as well. his actions are definitely keeping them 'on a leash', so to speak! to mrs wagner, all i can suggest is getting products that hwlp to keep cats away. I have a garden too, and i love my garden. I know what cats can do....I accept it as a fact of life......
James A. Tyrrell
Oct 11th 2010, 19:26
@David Agius. I agree with you 100% David and urge you to continue in your good work. What is more important in life, a few flowers or taking care of a hungry creature that in turn helps us by keeping the mice and rats under control? These people who seem to think they are Christians need to get their priorities in order.
Claire Busuttil
Oct 11th 2010, 18:37
Continue with the good work Mr.Agius, Ms Wagner & friends, can rent sonewhere else, maybe in the middle of a field, were they will dot be bugged by anyone......ohhh no wait a minute, in that case there will be flies, insects, and rats.....well, do not know what to suggest you Ms.Wagner, ...maybe you can try to rent a place on the moon, no one will bug you....at least for now....
prosit Mr.Agius, we need more people like you!!
charles grech
Oct 11th 2010, 16:52
@ T. Pace. Go tell it to the marines or betterstill to the irresponsible humans who abandon animals.
David Agius keep up the good work that you are doing. Thanks to your dedication the cats did not multiply since you spent many hours of very hard work to catch, neuter and release the cats.
Well done David.
http://www.searchmalta.com/ezine/sos/
www.saintfrancisfoundation.com
mario micallef
Oct 11th 2010, 16:40
JIen haga wahda nista' nghid: li fit-triq tieghi kien hemm il-qtates u xi ruh tajba tefghetilhom il-velenu u issa minnflok il-qtates u l-qrid tan-nies, hemm kull far daqsiex u l-qrid ghadu ma waqafx. Il-qtates halluhom kwieti ghax Malta mizghuda bil-grieden u l-uniku ghadu naturali li ghandhom dawn ta l-ahhar huma l-qtates li jistmerru hafna nies.
james maher
Oct 11th 2010, 14:59
Ermmmmmm T.Pace....
"With the best of intentions the cat carer of Swieqi may be overlooking the fact that the cat stray population - which has grown in numbers - is inconviencing others. " (t.pace)
Did you read what David said?? he neatured the cats....
Keep on doing what you do David.... It's people like you who show compassion for something and prove that some people don't do things with the idea of getting something in return.
maria spiteri
Oct 11th 2010, 14:31
If cats are not fed by someone like you they will start tearing garbage bags that people leave outside from the early hours of the morning. The most important thing is that your clean up after you have fed the cats. Keep up the good work David. Stray animals need people like you.
Marius Zulgis
Oct 11th 2010, 13:54
Dear Mr. Agius - lovely to see that there are still people out there who care for animals more than for a couple of stunted Geraniums in a cracked earthenware pot. Cats are incredibly clean animals as anyone with more than half a brain will confirm - all this gobbledegook about flies and rats is just that. Keep up your noble work!
l fenech
Oct 11th 2010, 13:28
First teach them to use toilets, then teach them about private property and gardens, nowadays we do not see any stray dogs and the same should be done with cats.
Janice Buttigieg
Oct 11th 2010, 13:08
Thank goodness there are people like David who care and dedicate many hours to looking after these cats. Keep on with the good work you are doing David.
Manwel Borg
Oct 11th 2010, 12:15
"I will continue to abide by Christ’s teaching and feed the hungry, even if they are the least of the animal species, for in Christ’s words 'What you do with the least among you, you will be doing with me' ".
When Christ said those words he did not have "animal species" in mind but the poor, the sick, the hungry, the homeless people.... definitely not cats (objects of ancient Egytian idolatory).
This is not to say that Mr Agius should not care for these animals if he has so in mind to do. But what he should not do is to give a different meaning to the words of Jesus Christ.
If anything, Mr Agius is obliged by Christ's teachings to 'love' his detractors who include Ms Wagner.
Kathryn Schembri
Oct 11th 2010, 11:39
David..I am glad that you and other kind souls around these islands are feeding the cats.
You do not have to be obsessed to want to see animals fed. I have come to love animals over the years we always said "never a cat" until we found a little kitten alone with an infected eye.
Molly has been here now for eight months and boy is she naughty!! But I am so glad I gave her a home and I would probably do it again!! There is always talk of filth I invite anyone to come and see the bring in site near my home if they want to see filth. Rabbit carcasses, food waste, nappies. You name it. We are such hypocrites when it comes to dirt.
Keep feeding David. In me it least you have support.!!
A.Damato
Oct 11th 2010, 10:46
As far as I know it is illegal to feed stray cats. If it is not a national law, it is for sure a local council by-law adopted in many localities. I fully agree with it. In every area that cats are fed, the same place is stenched with their urine and escrements, not mentioning the smell the uneaten food emanates when left in the summer heat making it an inconvenience to residents. Stray cats should be left to fend for themselves as nature created them. They will for sure not die of hunger given the large ammount of mice and rats that pester our country !!!
T. Pace
Oct 11th 2010, 10:37
This is not a personal battle. It is a right for all residents to have their properties safeguarded as well.
With the best of intentions the cat carer of Swieqi may be overlooking the fact that the cat stray population - which has grown in numbers - is inconviencing others.
This also applies to those dog owners in Swieqi who have taught their pets to stray around the block unaccompanied by them for their supposedly daily exercise (?) which invariably ends up with faeces and urine on other people's front gardens or door-steps and landscaping.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 11th 2010, 11:02
Don't you think that human beings are far too easily 'inconvenienced' by things and factors that they, as individuals, do not like? Yes, I agree with M. Forte: this is a storm in a teacup. True, in some areas there are too many cats, but the cat-carer says that he has neutered them. On the contrary, what has Ms Wagner ever done in the inteests of the cats? Nothing but complain! And that is what a good section of people do: complain!
What you say regarding dogs is true: it is wrong to allow dogs to roam unaccompanied in the streets - it is, after all, dangerous for said animals!
I wish to read comments that are animal-friendly and not just grumble, grumble, grumble about the presence of animals around us. Remember, sir, that stray animals are the most vulnerable in 'animal-society'. We should help, instead of grumble!
gcForte
Oct 11th 2010, 11:29
@ T.Pace...........You are totally wrong by saying that the population of stray cats has grown in numbers. God created all things, all animals ( stray cats included ) and all humans, proportionally to live in His world . It was us the egoists human being had ruined the circle of life.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 11th 2010, 12:55
You should re read...the author has had the cats neutered. So in reality, he is the only person who has done anything to control the cats numbers.
So whilst residents complain that the population has grown, they should have done something humane about it...yes...just like MR AGius
vfarrugia
Oct 11th 2010, 13:15
T. Pace,
what is the bigger nuisance? A cat colony, or an equal number of rats? If the cats leave, the rats will be all too happy to take their place.
M Williams
Oct 11th 2010, 15:52
Mr Agius stated in his letter that he has had the cats neutered. Therefore, if the cat population has really increased, maybe you should blame the people who are still abandoning their cats in the area. They are the ones who are invconveniencing others. Mr Agius is merely trying to redress the balance of Man's inhumanity to other creatures by showing them a little compassion. I am sure that given the choice, the cats would have preferred to belong to a household , rather than to have to avail themselves of the charity provided by Mr Agius. As for rats, probably there would be an even greater problem if the cats weren't there!
gcForte
Oct 11th 2010, 10:21
I am following this story....Full Stop....I heard both sides of it...Full stop....David Aguis....., You are 100% right...Full Stop...Marie Wagner... You are wrong...Full Stop...Conclusion....Keep watering your flowers...Full Stop..David Aguis...Keep on doing the good job you have been doing, and we thank you for that.. FULL STOP.
Guido Farrugia
Oct 11th 2010, 18:46
Being a Swieqi resident myself I feel i'm obliged to comment and without any doubt, in favour of Mr. Agius. Yes he's doing an excellent job indeed. The cats are'nt doing any harm whatsoever, unlike humans, supposedly well educated foreign students. Leave the gentleman in peace and face the band against arrogant students. Let's unite and take it up with our local council, maybe with the assistance of the Hon. Cristina, who happens to reside in our neighborhood..Thanks David for keeping your cats in one area instead of roaming about.
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