I sympathize with Mr. Berger's frustration with cats in his area; fortunately, I live in an area where most cats are spayed and neutered, and we seldom see roaming cats.

These cats didn't decide to become "wild" or feral or even on the loose - someone either dumped them or didn't bother to get them "fixed" so they wouldn't reproduce, and now they and their offspring are looking for food, water and warmth - just like we would be doing if we didn't have those necessities.

The solution to this county and country-wide problem is to spay and neuter your cats - and dogs. Yes, it costs money, but it is the most humane thing to do and will control numbers (cats can go into heat while still dealing with a current litter-many times a year) and become good neighbors as well.

Perhaps the county should consider an ordinance requiring all cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered, which would drastically reduce unwanted litters, roaming cats and dogs, and horrible deaths they suffer due to neglect. Neighbors could talk to each other and help get "barn cats" fixed to prevent litters. If you simply kill all the cats in a colony living in an area, others will move into that area, and you've gained nothing. Studies show this to be the case.

For Pets' Sake Humane Society, an all-volunteer local organization, has spayed and neutered 2,500 cats in 260 different colonies in the past 6 years, all for free. This has made a huge impact on local numbers as well as feral cats winding up in the city animal shelter. For Pets' Sake spent $41,654 in 2014 to spay and neuter over 560 cats and dogs thanks to local fundraising, grants from Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund, Foundation for Protection of Animals, DJandT Foundation and the Berniece Barbour Foundation. Friends of the Aspen (CO) Animal Shelter gave our area 1,000 free spay/neuter vouchers for local pets.

If we would all be responsible cat and dog owners, there wouldn't be a problem with homeless pets. That will only happen if we spay and neuter all our cats and dogs. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem - spay and neuter.

Bill Williams

Dolores