Don't feel bad about breaking the rules. I could see it if it were something like a bear or coyote. I'm sure William and Fred would concur with me.
When I was on patrol, there was a clerk at a store that stayed open 24/7 and I observed her feeding a large coyote. There had already been several sightings of it in the area and the population of these animals were rapidly growing in that county.
After I watched her feed the animal one night, I went inside the store to talk to her. (Her feeding the animal was interrupted by a mother and her small daughter going in to the store.) I asked her if that was the coyote that everyone is worried about hanging around these service stations and stores? (This store is in a business district with several other stores in the area.) She replied yes and went on about how sweet the animal was.
I could tell that she was emotionally attached to the wild animal but I highly encouraged her to stop feeding it. I could tell that she was getting upset with me so I had to elaborate in to why I'm addressing it with her in the first place. I told her that she is doing more harm to the animal than good because now it's depending on you for a food source so it's probably losing it's hunting and survival skills. Secondly, she's putting the public in danger by feeding this animal in a public parking lot where people of all shapes and sizes come to shop. I asked her what would happen one day if the animal had not been fed in a few days and it just happen to see a small child with some food in the area and decided to try and take the food from the child? She made the comment that I was going to extremes with my scenario. I told her that I didn't think it was far fetched at all and I would bet money that the owner of the store would probably side with me on the issue. I tried being as polite, delicate and tactful as I could but she wasn't taking the hint. She told me that she was bringing food from her own house to feed it with and feeding it on her breaks. Sadly, it came down to me threatening to get a Wildlife officer and the store owner involved. I don't know if it was the thought of the store owner getting involved or possibly being charged by Wildlife officials but nevertheless, she stopped feeding the animal and it eventually moved on. Coyote's are considered a nuisance in my area and people regularly hunt them. They've been known for killing small to medium sized pets. I've never had any crossings with one but I felt like I had a responsibility to protect the public by putting a stop to what was going on.
I love Fred and William, they're too cute!
It is for these exact reasons that I normally don't intervene. I have mentally struggled with this, but then I reasoned that I buy and put bird-seed out for other birds...so how is this any different?
I completely agree about not leaving food out for or feeding coyotes, bears or cougars. That is just inviting trouble. We have a large coyote population and they are wild pack creatures who hunt with intelligence in groups. Absolutely, they should not be encouraged to come to congregate in populated areas. No good ever comes from this. Ever. (Sorry it took me 4 days to respond to this, fantastic comment.) ;)