Illinois Proclaims National Feral Cat Day On May 3, the Illinois House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 1235 proclaiming October 16th as National Feral Cat Day throughout the state. This resolution, together with the enactment of Anna’s Law (IL Public Act 94-0639) last August, endorses Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to manage and reduce outdoor cat populations in Illinois. This is a critical step in informing Illinois residents about feral and stray cats and the importance of using humane methods like TNR to effectively reduce their numbers. Learn more about National Feral Cat Day at www.nationalferalcatday.org. Better to Neuter Feral Cats Than Kill Them Bismark, ND - "Killing feral cats should not be 'business as usual'"(Bismarck stray animal policy clarified, July 21), wrote ACA's Elizabeth Parowski in response to the Bismark police department's feral cat policy. (more) Ryan Coleman has been sentenced to eight years in prison for what he did to the cat, Tiger By now, many of you may know that Ryan Coleman has been sentenced to eight years in prison for what he did to the cat, Tiger. I am actually the "courtroom monitor" referred to below - those comments were from Wednesday, and I was there again yesterday as the closing arguments were presented to the jury.   Of course, his family wanted probation - they had enabled him all these years by not reporting it when he stole their credit cards, "cleaned out" an uncle's house after getting into an argument with him, broke a lamp over his father's head, terrorized all of them, refused to get a job, refused to take medication, etc., etc. etc.   The family never reported him for any of these acts. Then they turned him loose on us. It finally took a jury to hand him consequences for his hideous treatment of the helpless cat. He actually shot Tiger in the head with a bee-bee gun which completely paralyzed the cat, who was unable to do anything but utter sounds as for the next several HOURS as it was stomped on by Ryan Coleman's boot, repeatedly banged against a brick wall while being held by its tail, had its ear cut off, which Ryan Coleman then ate, then had its tail cut off and finally, was doused with lighter fluid and set on fire.   The father, Robert Coleman, said that since his son had been in county jail since his arrest in February - "enough is enough." Hard to believe. The father never stated it in his testimony but his feeling of "it was only a cat after all" came through loud and clear. Mr. Coleman owns some sort of lawn sprinkler business. Now, they are planning an appeal, but whether or not they are successful, this sentence of eight years - when it could very easily been probation for this monster - is a victory for Tiger, his owner and all of us who love animals and try to help them.   If you feel like sending a thank you to the prosecutors, the information is below. They did a terrific job. Beverly Fyfe Prosecutors: Jennifer Bennett Josh Healy Frank Crowley Courts Bldg 133 N. Industrial L.B. 19 Dallas, TX 75207 From: "South East Dallas Humane Society Rescue" sedhs@comcast.net Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 10:20 PM Woo Hoo! THANK GOD! - REFERENCE Tiger Ryan Coleman who pled guilty Tuesday to animal cruelty in the case of Tiger the Cat. The trial is now in the punishment phrase, which means that evidence is being presented and that evidence will be used by a jury to determine what punishment should be applied.   Tiger was mutilated before being killed in Nov. 2003, and it took a while to make the case, it seems.  As often happens in criminal cases, defense attorneys summoned family members to testify on the bad guy's behalf. The father of the accused, we're told, "first made sure that the courtroom knew he and his family were Mensa members, and that the son he raised was a DISD chess champion -- 'a prodigy,' according to him." The father also said he thought the son's killing of the cat stopped his bipolar son's out of control spiral. (Aside: Mensa member? I'll bet Mensa's reviewing those membership rules.) The father, noting that his son had been in jail since February, testified that "enough is enough," says our courtroom monitor, who adds, "I wonder how much little Tiger thought was 'enough' as he was being tortured, shot, had his ear and tail cut off and was set on fire." __._,_._Ryan Coleman has been sentenced to eight years in prison for what he did to the cat, Tiger By now, many of you may know that Ryan Coleman has been sentenced to eight years in prison for what he did to the cat, Tiger. I am actually the "courtroom monitor" referred to below - those comments were from Wednesday, and I was there again yesterday as the closing arguments were presented to the jury. Of course, his family wanted probation - they had enabled him all these years by not reporting it when he stole their credit cards, "cleaned out" an uncle's house after getting into an argument with him, broke a lamp over his father's head, terrorized all of them, refused to get a job, refused to take medication, etc., etc. etc. The family never reported him for any of these acts. Then they turned him loose on us. It finally took a jury to hand him consequences for his hideous treatment of the helpless cat. He actually shot Tiger in the head with a bee-bee gun which completely paralyzed the cat, who was unable to do anything but utter sounds as for the next several HOURS as it was stomped on by Ryan Coleman's boot, repeatedly banged against a brick wall while being held by its tail, had its ear cut off, which Ryan Coleman then ate, then had its tail cut off and finally, was doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. The father, Robert Coleman, said that since his son had been in county jail since his arrest in February - "enough is enough." Hard to believe. The father never stated it in his testimony but his feeling of "it was only a cat after all" came through loud and clear. Mr. Coleman owns some sort of lawn sprinkler business. Now, they are planning an appeal, but whether or not they are successful, this sentence of eight years - when it could very easily been probation for this monster - is a victory for Tiger, his owner and all of us who love animals and try to help them. If you feel like sending a thank you to the prosecutors, the information is below. They did a terrific job. Beverly Fyfe Prosecutors: Jennifer Bennett Josh Healy Frank Crowley Courts Bldg 133 N. Industrial L.B. 19 Dallas, TX 75207 From: "South East Dallas Humane Society Rescue" sedhs@comcast.net Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 10:20 PM Woo Hoo! THANK GOD! - REFERENCE Tiger Ryan Coleman who pled guilty Tuesday to animal cruelty in the case of Tiger the Cat. The trial is now in the punishment phrase, which means that evidence is being presented and that evidence will be used by a jury to determine what punishment should be applied. Tiger was mutilated before being killed in Nov. 2003, and it took a while to make the case, it seems. As often happens in criminal cases, defense attorneys summoned family members to testify on the bad guy's behalf. The father of the accused, we're told, "first made sure that the courtroom knew he and his family were Mensa members, and that the son he raised was a DISD chess champion -- 'a prodigy,' according to him." The father also said he thought the son's killing of the cat stopped his bipolar son's out of control spiral. (Aside: Mensa member? I'll bet Mensa's reviewing those membership rules.) The father, noting that his son had been in jail since February, testified that "enough is enough," says our courtroom monitor, who adds, "I wonder how much little Tiger thought was 'enough' as he was being tortured, shot, had his ear and tail cut off and was set on fire." __._,_._ Dr. JULIE LEVY RESPONDS TO MISREPRESENTATION OF T/N/R STUDY BY AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY In a December American Bird Conservancy e-newsletter , Linda Winters, Program Director of  "Cats Indoors!" states that a " New study shows TNR programs have no impact on feral cat populations."   Please Click here for the response from one of the study's authors, Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida.