The Medicine Hat SPCA is aware of at least three feral cat colonies throughout the city, and estimates there to be a combined total of several hundred feral cats within the colonies.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat could see introduction of a trap-neuter/spay-release program in coming months – a program animal welfare advocates say is much needed to address the overpopulation of feral cats.
Potential introduction of a TNR program has been a topic of considerable discussion in Medicine Hat for upwards of 10 years, as animal advocates and city residents alike have reported increases in the number of feral cats seen each spring.
Despite what locals say is an obvious need for such a program, one has never been introduced in Medicine Hat as the city’s existing Responsible Animal Ownership bylaw (Bylaw No. 3935) does not allow for the release of feral animals, and therefore does not support the existence of a TNR program.
In the spring of 2021, while attempting to manage a significant influx of stray and feral cats and kittens, several local animal welfare organizations approached the city and encouraged an update to the bylaw, in hopes of establishing a long-term solution to animal overpopulation; to which the city agreed to re-examine the bylaw.
Then last spring, a city resident created an online petition advocating for the implementation of a TNR program, with the city responding that the program was under review, but hoped to take the matter to council in the summer or fall.
With kitten season quickly approaching, animal advocates and animal lovers are once again questioning when such a program may arrive in the Hat and are urging the city to act.
In a statement to the News, parks and recreation director James Will said the city has been working on amending the Responsible Animal Ownership bylaw since last spring, in an effort to ready it for this year.
“Based on our current knowledge of best practices related to successful TNR programs, we felt it was best to bring forward the amending bylaw … to coincide with warmer months, while we dedicated resources to other outstanding projects in the department over the past several months,” said Will, while confirming the first draft of the amended bylaw is set to appear before the administrative committee next week.
If approved, the draft would then seek approval from the public services committee, followed by council.
Advocates for TNR are hopeful the amended bylaw will pass sooner rather than later, as already kittens are being born into the city’s feral cat colonies, of which there are a minimum of three, each comprised of anywhere from 50-100 cats.
While a TNR program will not immediately amend the issue of feral cat overpopulation, R.J. Bailot, executive director and co-founder of Canadian Animal Task Force, a Calgary-based non-profit specializing in TNR, says it helps provide a long-term solution to that and other related issues.
“What we find, is in communities where they’re not supporting TNR initiatives, the cat population is just continuing to explode (and) they’re never really able to get a handle of it,” said Bailot. “But by having a sterilized population of cats, it creates this more stable population overall, and just makes it more manageable.”
Bailot and other Canadian Animal Task Force members spent four days last week in Cypress County to assist the county in TNR efforts.
Facing similar overpopulation issues as Medicine Hat, the county and the task force partnered several years ago and now conduct regular TNR events, free for residents to access.
To host the events, the county does pay a small buy-in, dependent on the number of cats fixed, however the majority of the cost is covered by the task force.
“All the cats get spayed, vaccinated, they’re provided with a permanent ID in the form of a tattoo, and then we also chip their other ear (to show) that cat has been altered,” said Bailot.
Approximately 162 cats were fixed at last week’s event, while an additional 74 were safely surrendered and transferred to a shelter for adoption.
