Atlantic Canada appeals for help for our feline friends in the Year of the Cat
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nova Scotia (Wednesday, August 24, 2011) - The Nova Scotia SPCA, the SPCA Newfoundland & Labrador, the Greater Moncton SPCA, the PEI Humane Society, the New Brunswick SPCA and the Fredericton SPCA are appealing to the public for support to help cats. Atlantic Canada is overflowing with cats and humane organizations are struggling to address the need.
“Our organizations are facing an enormous strain and capacity limitations,” said Executive Director of the Nova Scotia SPCA, Kristin Williams. “We rely on donations to carry out our work and the need for our
services outpaces our ability to offer aid. When our shelters are at capacity, we consider all possible options, including volunteer foster families to alleviate intake pressures and adoption promotions to enhance animal flow. The cat overpopulation issue is at crisis levels. The dilemma is getting worse every year and unfortunately animal welfare organizations that are donor driven are the only ones addressing the needs of cats. Cats need advocates and they need help.”
This year, is in fact the Year of the Cat, and humane organizations, veterinarians, industry and professionals have united in advocacy for the cat overpopulation crisis with an aim to increase the value society places on owned, stray and feral cats.
Studies show that approximately 80% of breeding age animals must be altered for there to be an impact on the number of animals ending up in shelters. Overpopulation directly affects the cycle of neglect, abuse and cruelty.
What can the public do?
Every individual is a powerful advocate and can make a real difference in the lives of animals in every community in Atlantic Canada. Here are some of the ways in which you can help:
Foster - Become part of our care network and expand our ability to support animals in need by providing a loving, safe environment for an animal in your home.
Adopt - Every animal that is adopted makes room for another to come into our care. If adoption was everyone’s first choice, there would be no displaced animals in need of loving homes. In a recent national survey, only 17% of cats were adopted from shelters. If you can’t adopt from a shelter, consider adopting a stray and provide for their needs.
Donate - Help us expand our capacity to offer care. Donations will directly go to enhancing our ability to help animals in need.
Support local rescue groups and TNR - Local rescues take in thousands of animals each year and TNR (trap, neuter, return) groups work with feral populations to ensure that they do not reproduce and
populations naturally decrease.
Call the media - Be heard and bring attention to the cause. The media is a valuable tool in broadening awareness of efforts on the ground and issues that need to be addressed.
Talk to government - Understand where your tax dollars go and advocate for stronger regulations and bylaws that are inclusive of the needs for cats in particular – stray and owned.
ID your pets - Shelters are full of pets that never find their way back home because they have no ID. Indoor pets may even escape through open doors and windows. Safety collars with ID are a great
start, but the best form of permanent ID is a quick and painless microchip, which lasts a lifetime.
Background
In the many communities, there are an abundance of stray, feral and free roaming unaltered cats. Cruelty, neglect and abuse towards cats is under reported and the hoarding of cats is becoming a disturbing trend. Cats have little to no protection under the law (municipal, provincial or federal). Rescues, TNR (trap, neuter and return), shelters and other animal welfare groups attempt to address this issue with available donated and volunteer resources, but the problem continues to outrun the efforts.
Spay and neuter is the only non-lethal, long term solution available to address stray and feral populations. It is also the only way to ensure that owned animals do not produced unexpected litters that may end up on the streets or in shelters.
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MEDIA CONTACTSNova Scotia SPCA - Kristin Williams: (902) 835-4798 x228 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
