My name is Rachel Gazes, I am a born and raised Nevadian who considers myself a member of the animal community. I in fact, have worked at NHS. I have cleaned the feral cages, fed them, medicated them and I ask that you please take a moment to listen to my experiences.

What I feel most don't understand is that a feral cat has had limited human contact. In fact, the majority are completely terrified of people. Because of this, the wonderful NHS cares for them in large cages and allows them to keep their intake dens. These small dens are otherwise meant to be a temporary means of transportation to a cage, but for a feral cat they are a means of safety and comfort in a new environment. The dens are so tiny that many larger cats are unable to turn around in them and yet almost all of the feral cats choose to only come out of their dens into their much larger cages to eat, drink or use the litter-box when everyone has gone home from fear of being seen or harmed.

I have been the one to have to clean the urine and feces out of a den because the cat is too scared to leave their den to do their duties, I have been the one to open the door when one happens to be out eating or using their litter box and watched them in terror scatter back to their den knocking all of their food and water over, I have watched some gravely Ill from something as simple as a URI and watched the caring NHS team still attempt to medicate them through food and monitor whether they've eaten their meds and I've sadly also seen some end up euthanized for something that may otherwise be simple because they are unable to be treated with their feral state. I have seen the fear of these animals first hand.

The only hope these living breathing animals have is through caring organizations like NHS who help them find a wonderful individual who has allowed a colony on their property. These cat's are not going to attack people and unless you're worried about a ringworm outbreak, which is absurd, they aren't going to spread disease through our city. I was sure enough of this that I worked with these animals up until my last weeks of pregnancy without a concern. In fact, feral cats do a wonderful service for the community in helping with population control for pests such as mice, rats and other vermin.

These animals DESERVE a chance at life. They don't deserve to be euthanized which is what will end up happening if you go through with this ordinance, they don't DESERVE to live their life in a small den hiding in fear because no one is allowed to adopt them for a colony, they DESERVE to be captured, altered and released back or adopted into colonies so that they too can live their life.

These cats are a living animal that has never caused an issue in our community, please do not sign their death certificates by passing this ordinance I plead with you.

I have also created a petition with my story at Change.org so others can voice their opinion and sign. .