6/4-A fee for cat traps

When I was over shadowing Lynne the other day, she explained a situation to me and invited my to write a letter to the shelter manager about it. Here's my letter:

Dear Animal Services Director,

I recently heard about your new policy of charging the public for borrowing a Have-a-Heart trap. This greatly disappoints me because I know that this will discourage people from trapping feral cats. I know that the economy is tough, and making money now is absolutely necessary, but I wonder if there is another way to make it. For anyone in the general public to take the step to try to catch a cat in need is huge, especially because so few people will even think about it in the first place. The few people who even try to trap should be encouraged in any ways possible, and never charged. This is especially true because your shelter does not have a TNR program at all. And as I mentioned before and you know, the economy is bad right now, so many possible trappers will not be able to pay for the trap in the first place. The most important point, however, is that if fewer people trap feral cats, then the cats whose lives could have been changed for the better will not be changed at all. As a cat lover, a member of the Santa Cruz community, and a big supporter of your shelter, I am asking that you please retract the fee for borrowing a trap.

Thank you,

Amelia Erickson