Residents of a Reeds Spring trailer park received letters in their mailboxes asking them to place bowls of antifreeze outside their homes to kill stray cats.
The note, provided to the News-Leader and posted by Pillars on Craigslist, aggressively calls for residents to help get rid of the animals. It asks residents not to leave food outside their units because strays have become "a major problem." The note says the cats tear up insulation under homes and cause damage.
"Anyone found feeding stray cats will face immediate eviction," the note says. "Beginning the first of October we will begin an all out assault on all stray cats ... so keep your one pet in doors. All residents can help clean up the stray cat problem by leaving a bowl of antifreeze out to poison these ever increasing problem."
The trailer park's manager, Mark F. Rich, this afternoon told the News-Leader he did not send the note. He said there's been dispute in the trailer park between residents who want dozens of problematic feral cats gone and residents who feed the cats. He also said one specific resident has expressed anger at the cats and might have circulated the note but Rich declined to give that person's name.
Antifreeze, which contains ethylene glycol (EG), is extremely dangerous to dogs, cats and other wildlife. As little as a tablespoon can result in severe acute kidney failure in dogs and as lttle as teaspoon can be fatal to cats.
Antifreeze poisoning can cause pain, suffering, distress and ultimately, painfull death.
