Animal rights group wants Niagara to be no-kill zone
Posted By TIFFANY MAYER, SUN MEDIA
Posted 2 months ago
- A feline's life isn't always the cat's meow.
But a local animal welfare group is trying to change that by convincing Niagara communities to adopt "no-kill" animal control policies.
"It's a goal," said Julia Murray, president of Community Animal Allies of Niagara.
Formed three years ago by Murray, a veterinarian at Court Animal Hospital in St. Catharines, the allies are taking their cue from no-kill programs in the U. S.
Murray, who once worked at a no-kill shelter south of the border, said such policies have been successful in dealing with feral cat populations and curbing the staggering rates of euthanasia at animal shelters.
In Niagara, about 5,000 cats are displaced from their homes each year, Murray said. Most aren't claimed, often because of the expense of getting them out of the pound, and are euthanized, she said.
Here's how she and the allies are trying to turn Niagara no-kill:
The group, made up of animal lovers and volunteers, holds trap, neuter and release clinics to help slow the influx of strays to shelters. Not only does it control the population, Murray said, it also keeps the kitties healthier.
The allies also have a network of feral cat caregivers who are trained to assist with sterilization surgeries, by prepping clinics or cleaning tools.
In the year since the clinics have started, 500 cats have been fixed. They have also been vaccinated and microchipped. That way, if they are picked up by a shelter, they can be reunited with their caregivers.
The spayed or neutered cats also have their left ears marked to identify them as colony cats that are being cared for.
"We've had people for the first time in years not having any kittens in their colonies," Murray said.
Running low-cost spay and neuter programs within the confines of Ontario veterinary regulations is something else the group is working on. The surgery can be cost-prohibitive, even at reduced rates, she said. Opening up a charity clinic isn't economically feasible and tactics taken in the U. S., such as mobile spay/neuter clinics, are prohibited here.
The allies also take in injured and sick cats that would otherwise be put to sleep by shelters. The animals are nursed back to health and put up for adoption. Murray said 250 cats have found permanent homes through the program.
But to have real impact in the quest to go no-kill, it requires the support of all local animal welfare groups and concerted efforts to control the pet population with spaying and neutering, she said. Otherwise, shelters will still get overloaded with homeless animals.
"One shelter going no-kill does not help the community," Murray said. "We're trying to achieve the whole community working together."
As a way of saying thanks to animal advocates and feral cat caregivers, the allies are hosting a compassion fatigue retreat Saturday at The Buttery on Queen Street in Niagara Falls.
The event features sessions on emergency preparedness planning for pets, dealing with compassion fatigue, a documentary screening and a presentation by a pet detective.
"You get compassion fatigue because you're doing your job well, not because you're not doing it," Murray said.
"It's just a never-ending flow and there's not much support."
citydesk@nfreview.com
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What:Community Animal Allies of Niagara Operation NORTH STAR conference
Where:The Buttery, 4437 Queen St., Niagara Falls
When:Saturday, 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Cost:$30 per person or $25 for Community Animal Allies of Niagara members
To register or for more information, phone Mary at 905-401- 0016 or email her at bdvern@cogeco.ca
