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Feral Cat Program Sparks City Fine Threat
22 Oct
Summary
- Woman's feral cat program faces city fines for contravening bylaws.
- The initiative uses trap-neuter-return to manage community cat populations.
- City officials prioritize rehoming cats with registered owners.
A woman in Selkirk has initiated a program aimed at managing the local feral cat population, but her efforts have led to a confrontation with city officials. She started the Selkirk Cat Collective, focusing on a trap-neuter-return strategy to help community cats. However, the City of Selkirk has informed her that she could face fines for her activities.
City officials stated their priority is to ensure stray animals are returned to their registered owners or rehomed through reputable organizations. They interpret releasing cats as a failure to provide adequate care, potentially violating the Animal Care Act. This stance could result in substantial fines, up to $10,000, or jail time for offenders.
The program founder has been working with a local veterinarian and has assisted more than 20 cats since mid-September. She is seeking to register as a charity to continue her work. In the interim, she is facilitating the transport of 15 kittens and a mother cat to Alberta for rehoming.
