Are people who feed stray cats helping or hurting?

DEAR JOAN >> My husband and I walk our dog through the Hercules trails and are very concerned about a woman who is feeding the stray cats.

There are city signs telling everyone “Don’t feed the animals,” which have the “Don’t” painted over. This well-meaning woman has a cart set up with food and water, and makes her way down the trail feeding these unfortunate animals. I love animals, but I am concerned about the batches of kittens soon to come, and the fleas and other problems that come with stray animals. What do you think? — Linda M. Hercules DEAR LINDA >> I am decidedly, most certainly, 100 percent on the fence on this one. I see both sides, which is a journalistic curse and the product of a soft heart.

Stray cats have an impact on the environment, killing wildlife in order to survive. While that’s nature — for every creature to live, others must die — cats are not a natural part of the wild, so their killing of other creatures could be avoided if they all lived in homes with owners that fed and cared for them.

Stray cats have a lot of struggles, and some of them are passed along to us. The office where I used to work became infested with fleas because of a colony of stray cats that lived on the property and were fed by well-meaning people.

On the other hand, the cats exist and I see no need for them to suffer. If they are regularly fed by people who care about them, they are less likely to prey on wildlife and they won’t starve.

As for the kittens, that’s where TNR — trap, neuter, return — can pay dividends. There are groups that will trap the cats, take them to a vet to be spayed or neutered, and then return them to the same area from whence they came.

Some question how effective that is, as there always seems to be a plentiful supply of feral cats and kittens, but it at least stops breeding in those cats.

There are much larger issues at play, such as responsible pet ownership, but the immediate concern is the safety and welfare of those cats.

I certainly don’t advocate people breaking the law, but I can understand why some folks do what they do.

I don’t have an answer. Do you? Readers, what do you think about this? I’d love to know.

A chance for fame

We all know that our dogs are stars of their own productions, but if you have a Chihuahua or a bulldog, here’s a chance to share their wonderfulness with a larger audience.

STARS 2000 Theatre Company is again mounting a production of one of my favorites, “Legally Blonde,” and will be auditioning dogs for the roles of Bruiser, Elle Woods’ Chihuahua, and Rufus, Paulette’s bulldog.

STARS 2000 is a theater company based in Walnut Creek that was founded in 1992 to give aspiring young actors a place to refine their theatrical skills and talent while performing in fullscale, Broadway-style musicals. The teens receive training in all aspects of theater, in front of the curtain and behind the scenes.

If you’re interested in auditioning your dog, contact the company’s founder and artistic director, Diane Kamrin at dkstars2000@yahoo.com.