I live in a county that doesn't support "free-roaming" cats or trap/neuter/return. I am the Director of Community Cats Coalition located in Berlin, Md. on the Eastern Shore. I have been involved in the rescue field for over 40 years. I recieve 16-20 calls per day for help from residents caring for stray, feral and abandoned cats. We practise tnr in order to stop the overpopulation of more unwanted litters. We receive no funding from any government agencies. We pay for the services we provide out of our own pockets, sometimes we receive a few grants throughout the year that helps us immensely. Because Worcester County Animal Control of Snow Hill, MD. as well as the Worcester County Health Department doesn't believe in or allow free roaming cats, their program is to just round up every stray cat & kill it. Recently a rabid cat was found in the vacinity of one of our colonies. The cat was destroyed. Animal Control came out in full force, setting 32 traps & warning the residents of the community not to feed the 3 remaining cats on the property, who by the way had been fixed and vaccinated AGAINST rabies! After two weeks of starving the cats, one was caught! I was informed & I called AC immediately to claim the cat. Animal Control admitted they had the cat & told us as a non-profit rescue organization we would be able to redeem the cat as long as we were able to provide them with a rabies certificate. We faxed it over immediately. AC called back & said the certificate didn't provide an accurate description of the cat. When asked to describe which of the 3 remaining cats they had, they refused! After a week of many phone calls, daily changing requirements to get the cat out of AC, we were told that the cat was going to be killed! I tried to get the Health Department as well as AC to explain to me, why when this cat was a perfectly healthy fixed & vaccianted cat were they going to end his life when there were two rescues groups ready to take him and quarantine him for the required 45 days? AC smugly replied because we can & we don't have to tell you why or even let you see the cat! I'm pretty sure they have Oliver a sweet gray striped tabby with a white bib who was born with one bad eye. The rabid cat that was found near the colony was never part of the colony. Providing rabies vaccines to colony cats protects not only the cats but the public by providing a firewall of protection. Oliver is now going to have his life ended simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Animal Control & the Health Department are wielding their power of authority with a hugh sledgehammer & it must stop. Please contact Mary Beth Carozza Republican State Delegate for Wicomico & Worcester County, Md. @ 410-841-3356