Well they may be providing sanctuary to the boats, but I had an email today that the feral cat colony at Harbourville is to be trapped and Killed by Kings County Animal Control.
HART was up there last night for a site visit.... they had been informed that the colony would be trapped and killed today. They spoke with the ACO, Darlene Millett, who told them she has received repeated complaints from the owners of those 'colorful boats' that the cats have been defecating on them and that the fishermen want them gone.
Ms Millet did give HART one week to trap the cats and relocate them, but that is a very tight timeline to get the cats situated. If anyone is able to help out, even temporarily with any of the cats, please contact Laurie at HART
Anyone familiar with TNR could tell AC and the good people of Harbourville that removal of the cats will not solve the problem. In what is referred to as the 'vacuum effect", more feral cats will simply move in to take their place.
Trap Neuter Return has many advocates around the province.... and one of the Canadian pioneers in TNR work lives right here in Kings County Last fall, Jill Brideau gave a wonderful talk on TNR at a presentation that was put on at the Windermere Hall in Berwick.
SPCANS has taken an official position of support for TNR as the only humane solution to the feral cat problem. http://www.spcans.ca/who_we_are/statements.html#Feral
The newsletter that I received in the mail with my Kings County SPCA membership had a great article to let their supporters know that the SPCA supports TNR, as well as in their words "debunking' some of the myths about TNR.
What can you do to help? Ohhhh .... where to start?
- its going to cost money to get these cats tested and altered and HART will need any help anyone can give that way
- I know I already mentioned it, but if you have a safe spot they need that too
- and of course .last but very definitely not least, you can Click Here to send a message to all Councillors and if you want to talk to any of your own councillors, you can Go to Councillor Profiles to send a message to individual councillors
What time is it? Its time to recognise that catching and killing feral cats is no different than bailing the boat with a sieve.
Any successful strategy for managing stray and feral cat populations in NS has to start with educating our municipal representatives. They are the only ones who have the power to stop the killing. Otherwise the blood will keep pouring as fast and as hard as the rivers that are flooding right now with the melting snow.
It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds. - Samuel Adams
No comments:
Post a Comment