The Proof of the Pudding

From http://www.novanewsnow.com/
Curbing the county’s kitty problem, one cat at a time
Published on March 4th, 2010
Heather Killen/Spectator The note that came with her said: “My name is Peaches. Please give me a good home.”
Dorothy Amirault, of Granville Ferry, said she found the ginger-coloured tabby after it had been dropped in her dooryard a few years ago. This wasn’t the first or last abandoned or stray animal she’s helped after it showed up in her neighbourhood.
“At least they told me her name,” she said. “People always know which houses will take the animal in.”
Amirault, along with Steve Lewis, Jean Spavold, and Paula Dodaro are members of an Annapolis-based nonprofit group called Team TNR (Trap Neuter Return). These volunteers have been spaying and neutering stray and feral cat colonies since 2006.
The group humanely traps the cats, takes them to a local vet for a health check, needles, and spays or neuters. Then the cats are returned to the site and their caregiver. Similar high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter programs are used worldwide and have been found to be the most effective way of controlling over population.
The first colony treated by Team TNR here in February 2006 was located outside Annapolis Royal. About 40 feral cats were living in an outbuilding and were being fed by a local animal lover. Neighbours complained the colony was a nuisance and the local animal control officer was constantly hearing complaints.
“It starts when you feed a stray. Some people have a big heart and when cats are dropped off, they can’t see them starve,” she said. “But then one turns into another, and another, and soon there’s kittens.”
Nobody starts out with 40 cats, but unwanted animals tend to turn up one at a time, according to Amirault. Some have wandered away from their homes. Others are dropped off, or abandoned after people move.
And if these animals aren’t spayed or neutered, nature takes over and soon one pair of cats proliferates into a colony. One unsprayed female and her mate can produce as many as 2000 cats in four years.
“It goes on forever unless the populations are controlled,” Steve Lewis said. “We need to adopt a comprehensive spay and neuter program.”
Cat populations can be controlled through continuing TNR programs on existing colonies, but we need to take the initiative one step further by starting a low-cost spay and neuter program to help low income pet owners, he added.
Unless pets are fixed, unwanted animals will continue to be born and many of these kittens will end up homeless, perpetuating an endless cycle. Lewis said that most stray cats are only a generation away from becoming feral cats.
Trapping and euthanizing cat colonies is an ineffective way of approaching the problem. Cats are territorial and removing one group only means another will move in and the birth rates will subsequently go up again.
ONE CAT AT A TIME
To date the group has trapped, neutered, and returned over 900 cats in the county and while there is a currently a waiting list of about 60 cats, Lewis said he knows the program is working because the populations among the treated colonies are shrinking, not growing.
The original colony in Granville Ferry has now dropped by half. This change was a normal process of attrition and possible only because the population had been controlled through Team TNR’s program.
“It goes on forever unless the populations are controlled. We need to adopt a comprehensive spay and neuter program.” - Steve Lewis
Another large colony outside Middleton hasn’t produced any kittens since Team TNR paid them a visit about two years ago. Topping the group’s to-do list this year is a large colony outside Bridgetown.
“This is possible because we have dedicated caregivers, compassionate veterinarians, and through the support of the county,” he said.
The group also relies on funding from the Municipality of the County of Annapolis. Lewis said Annapolis is the only municipality in the province that funds this type of program; and since the group is so small, this funding is especially important as they don’t have time to do their own fundraising.
The program is also possible thanks to the generosity of local veterinarians such as Dr. Jody Rice, of Port Royal Animal Hospital. The group works with four vets in the area and without their support, the group couldn’t continue, he added.
In the end, it’s a cost effective program for everyone according to Lewis. In communities using TNR programs, new cat birth rates have dropped, lessening the need for catching cats. The animal control officer has more time for other issues, and this translates into the taxpayers saving money.
Anyone caring for stray/feral cats and willing to continue feeding them after they’ve been fixed can call Team TNR for help. Also from time to time, the group finds tame cats that are adoptable. For more information on adopting, or neutering a cat, call Dorothy at 532-0000.
Gosh ... once again Annapolis county is leading the way for the animals. How do they help them ....let me count the ways:

• by providing the tangible support that Team TNR has needed to be able to focus on the actual TNR work
• in addition, because Team TNR has maintained statistics, Annapolis County is able to show other municipalities how a relatively modest investment can yield tangible results in a short ( four year ) time. ( the subject of how the petition in support of TNR in HRM has fallen into some mysterious black hole is a separate topic deserving of its own post)
• by developing and maintaining a relationship with CAPS to provide a better outcome for AC impounds
• by promoting this work on their county website, easily accessed from the front door by clicking on the Admin tab. Links to CAPS immediately pop up when the mouse passes over the Animal Control link
• by changing their dog registration program ( http://www.annapoliscountyspectator.ca/News/2010-03-04/article-877633/County-introduces-voluntary-dog-registration/1) to a voluntary, one time lifetime fee for registering each dog.
  

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Now that wasn't the only article that I found about the animals this morning... nope in this morning's herald there is also this:

Pro-Brindi demonstrators rally to support owner

By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter Sun. Mar 7 - 4:53 AM
A small group of animal lovers rallied in Halifax Saturday to support an embattled metro dog owner who’s been on a crusade to save her beloved pet from being put down.
The rally was held on behalf of Francesca Rogier and her impounded dog, Brindi, in advance of the woman’s sentencing hearing Tuesday in Dartmouth provincial court.
Ten sign-carrying protesters gathered in front of the main entrance of the Public Gardens to hand out leaflets and appeal to passersby to support their cause.
One of the protester’s signs said: Dogs Forgive – Why Can’t We?
Nearby, young people were on the sidewalk extolling the virtues of God and the Bible.
It was sunny and a cool breeze was blowing but pro-Brindi demonstrators and their furry friends came prepared for the weather. One pet owner tied a scarf around her dog’s neck, another dressed her pooch in a blanket-like sweater and tuque while a third owner quenched her dog’s thirst with a large bottle of water.
One of the handouts said there were misconceptions about Brindi’s past behaviour.
"Brindi has never attacked or bitten a person," it says. "The SPCA shelter finds her lovable and sweet."
She has had a few scrapes with other dogs, though.
Last month, Rogier was found guilty of violating Halifax Regional Municipality’s animal control bylaw. The presiding judge must decide what to do with the dog, which has been held at an SPCA shelter since it was seized by the municipality in 2008.
Rogier was convicted of three charges: being the owner of a dog that was running at large, owning a dog that attacked another animal and failing to comply with a muzzle order.
Judge Alanna Murphy scheduled the sentencing hearing for March 9. Rogier told The Chronicle Herald Saturday that she plans to request a postponement.
"I’m asking for an adjournment so I can get time to get a behavioural assessment" of Brindi, a six-year-old mixed breed, she said.
Rogier, who is representing herself in court, said she will appeal if the judge orders her dog destroyed.
She said she might consider some sort of temporary foster care for Brindi, if the court should issue such an order, but doesn’t want her dog adopted by someone else.
"I’m perfectly capable of taking care of this dog," said Rogier. "I just need to have her behind a fence . . . and I’ve already lined up trainers to help me work on her behaviour. I don’t see how anyone can do any better than that."
Rogier said she’s visited her dog since it was seized about 20 months ago. Asked if she and Brindi might have to form a new bond should the animal be released to her care, she said probably not.
But Brindi would likely have to be housetrained again — if she gets to go home with Rogier to East Chezzetcook, the woman said.
( mlightstone@herald.ca)
When I was in the military, I used to tell my people that I would back them up for making any mistake ... as they as they were straight with me. Over the period of time that Brindi has been impounded, the story has changed so often and has sadly born such little resemblance to the facts presented in court that its no surprise that support for Ms Rogier dwindled and has virtually disappeared from the local animal loving community.

If I hadn't learned the hard way from the Celtic Pets story not to swallow whole every tale I was told, that lesson was driven home with this case. ( There is a sad irony at the connection, when a more reputable rescue would have matched Brindi to an adopter with suitable experience and skills )

Like everyone else in the local animal loving community, I am truly hoping that Brindi will live to tell the tale, but I believe it is not in Brindi's best interests to return her to a community where virtually every possible bridge has been burned. Not only do I greatly fear for Brindi's personal safety, but it doesn't take any prescience to predict the outcome when AC has to get involved. Why do I say when? In light of everything that has happened, its clear there will be zero tolerance for error in the neighborhood, eh?

But this is all sheer speculation for, as my friend Joan has repeatedly pointed out the decision is in the hands of three parties ... and three parties alone.

The reason I posted this article ... was not to garner additional attention for this very Unhappy Tail. I posted it as an example of media bias that is starting to be a disturbing trend in the Herald. ( Remember Next time, look under the bed ? ) Does today's article interview anyone outside of the protest, or base its information on anything more than the pamphlets the reporter was given? Outside of admiring the dog togs of course. The freedom to swallow whole every tale they are told should not ever be extended to the press, eh?

There are so many animal related stories and investigative work more relevant to the community that the Herald could and should be doing. What happened to the petition submitted in support of TNR? What happened to the Low Cost Spay Neuter proposal submitted by the society? A juicy expose of the sordid stories enabled by the dreaded free online ad sites ( Oh wait a minute ... that might be a little close to home where a local valley puppy miller has been advertising in the Herald : (((

Webmaster edit .... if the Herald really wants to promote a news story, they really ought to read the post that my friend Joan wrote on this article http://dogkisser.blogspot.com/2010/03/huge-conflict-of-interest.html She has a very valid point that needs to get 'equal time'

What time is it? It is time for all media to use a bit of social responsibility and remember that their stories have the power to shape and influence lives. The Herald could learn a lesson or two from the little local Annapolis County Spectator, who chose to serve their community by educating folks about TNR in general and Team TNR in specific.