2 pictures from May 12

The most recent pic of the kittens and mommy, between the heat/ac unit and the corner where the dryer vent exits the laundry room.

That's me, front and center, last night.

(remember, you can click on the pictures for a larger view)

So, the back yard family whom we thought had moved on re-appeared in our back yard a couple of days ago.  We have the number of the city's spay/neuter and release program.  

As there are no shelters that will take strays--  At. All.-- this program seems to be the most humane option.  I don't think this city even has animal control, because there are wild cats and packs of wild dogs all OVER the place...but Dave says they do have.

(They also for sure don't have a department that cleans up dead animals off of the streets.  They lie there and decompose.  It's absolutely disgusting.)

However, they won't come on to private property and trap wild cats, and if they did, they'd take them to a kill shelter.

SO--the only option we have other than just letting them alone and allowing the colony to continue to grow and grow, is to investigate this spay/neuter and release program.

From what we understand, according to the shelter people with whom we've spoken, they loan us traps, we trap the animals, take them to the place and drop them off, they do the surgery.  Then we have to go back and get them, and we are to release them back to the wild and feed them. 

That way, they live out their lives wild, but they don't continue to build the size of the colony.  

It's weird sounding to me, but I guess it makes some degree of sense, in a culture that has allowed the wild cats and dogs to get SO out of hand.

I think this letting animals run wild and procreate is a "southern thing."  Dave doesn't think it's strange at all.  He's used to it, and he's lived almost his entire life south of the Mason/Dixon.

AND, in other news, I finally made my first performance with the big fancy belly dance studio I have joined a number of times:  this time for the long term, I hope.  

After this semester, which ended last night, I will be moving up to the advanced level with a new teacher.  I'm very excited!  It's good to study with different people.

The next recital isn't until November, so I have the rest of this time between now and then to really work hard at getting in shape, learning new stuff, and working on technique. 

Should be fun!