"Who gave the right to decide?" Leaflets against feeding animals sparked a dispute in the Korabelnyi District

In the Korabelnyi district of Mykolaiv, a post about leaflets near the building at Oceanivska St., 32V sparked a discussion about where the line lies between helping stray animals and causing inconvenience to residents.

To the editorial office of “Korabelov.Info” a message from a reader arrived about the situation with street animals near the building at Oceanivska St., 32V. According to the author of the post, while some people spend their own money on food, feed stray cats and try to make their lives a little easier, leaflets appeared in this spot that are effectively against such feeding.

The reader points out that it is unknown who exactly is placing these slips of paper, however the mere appearance of such notices has already caused outrage. The main question raised in the appeal is – on what grounds does someone take it upon themselves to decide whether animals have a right to food.

In the comments under the post opinions were divided. One user tersely replied that instead of feeding the animals they should be taken home. Another commenter doubted that a piece of paper could really forbid or change anything.

A contrasting position was also voiced. One of the female commenters suggested that the appearance of such a notice could have specific reasons: a large number of cats may mark walls, doors and corners, produce a strong smell, damage surfaces, steal domestic poultry, stage nocturnal fights, provoke dogs to bark or simply gather in a dangerous spot where they could be hit by cars. She also noted that cats are predators and in nature perform the function of regulating the numbers of mice, rats, birds and large insects, and constant feeding, in her view, can change this natural behavior.

The commenter expressed her position in response to the discussion about the leaflets.

“Maybe there were reasons why such a leaflet was posted? As an option: cats mark everything around – walls, doors, corners. When there is one cat – that can still be tolerated, but when there are many, there is a terrible stench. This urine is so caustic that over time it even eats away paint on surfaces. Secondly, perhaps these cats steal chicks, ducklings or anything poorly stored. Maybe at night they stage wild fights among themselves. Or because of them dogs bark all night. It may also be that cats have gotten used to gathering precisely in this place, and cars press on them there. There can be many possibilities. The simplest reaction is to immediately start shouting: “they are abusing the poor kitties”, but first it is worth understanding the reason. And one more thing: the author probably forgot that cats are predators that can live without people. Their natural purpose is to regulate the number of mice, rats, birds and large insects in nature. When you feed them, a cat no longer has a reason to go hunting, and then people themselves complain about the proliferation of rodents”, – the commenter expressed her position in response to the discussion about the leaflets.

Thus, the situation around the leaflets on Oceanivska grew into a broader dispute about the coexistence of people and stray animals. For some, feeding is an act of compassion; for others – a cause of unsanitary conditions, noise and other everyday problems. Who exactly placed the notice is not specified in the post.

Previously we wrote:

• Mykolaiv fair: crafts from artisans of three cities and a fundraiser for a shelter
• Danger in the Korabelnyi district: attacks by stray dogs on people are becoming more frequent
• Over 30 dogs in Mykolaiv seek homes at the March 21 event
• Cats and dogs have waited: the state has officially sided with the furry animals
• Rabies in a stray cat: Korabelnyi district of Mykolaiv under quarantine