An MD of Bonnyville resident is hoping her solution to the feline population problem is the right one.
Silke Skinner has seen it time and time again, cats are either being abandoned, or are finding their way onto her rural property, and she knows they’re not the only ones.
This was one of the reasons why she kick-started the rural cat spay and neuter program.
“This is a program where barn cats and rural cats will be brought in (by MD residents) and registered, showing proof that they’re in fact a rural resident from a farm or acreage. That would then qualify them to get the cat spayed or neutered at no charge,” explained director of public safety for the MD of Bonnyville Chris Garner during a regular council meeting on Wednesday, April 11.
To get started, they will host a free one-day veterinary clinic pilot, encouraging residents to bring in cats to be spayed or neutered. The only cost residents would incur would be for items such as pain medication, if needed.
In order to sign-up, they would attend a pre-registration day, where they would provide proof they’re up-to-date on their taxes, and their driver’s license, to confirm they’re a resident of the MD.
Once they have qualified, the resident’s feline companion will be slotted in at the Bonnyville Veterinary Clinic.
“It would have been all of the vet clinics, but since it’s a pilot project, we will only have it in Bonnyville, because that’s where the project started,” Skinner said.
The MD has agreed to foot the bill for the pilot, hoping that if successful, the program will carry on, expand, and cut back on the cat population.
This year, the Bonnyville Vet Clinic has estimated they can perform up to 20 spays and 40 neuters in one day, at a cost of about $6,200.
If the pilot is successful, Skinner is hoping to see it grow to include more vet clinics, which would mean more animals could be serviced.
“If we do it several years in a row, we’re hoping to see a decline in the number of cats wandering around the MD,” emphasized Skinner.
Garner described the program as a “unique solution” to their cat population problem, and many councillors agreed.
Coun. Dana Swigart said, “I’m really in-favour of it. We have pushed for years to do something with cats, because we do (have a program) for dogs. This is a great idea.”
The issue is near and dear to Skinner’s heart.
She has had at least one stray per year show up on her property.
“I either have to bring them into the SPCA, or keep them, which I have done both of so far, but I can’t endlessly have stray cats showing up,” she expressed, adding this is what inspired her to dig a little deeper into the issue.
After doing some research, she came across an Edmonton program which is similar to what she is suggesting to the MD.
“My original proposal was to open vet clinics and do about 180 cats in one day,” Skinner noted.
As a volunteer for the Alberta Spay and Neuter Task Force, Skinner knows it is an issue across the region.
Through the program, she is hoping to cut back on the number of kittens being sold or given away, and cats dropped off at the local animal shelter.
“We’re hoping to reduce these numbers significantly over time,” said Skinner.
However, the MD knows this issue won’t clear up overnight.
“It’s not going to help immediately,” Garner said about the program.
However, he continued, the pilot will give them an opportunity to see what is and isn’t working.
“We will see how it goes and assess it after that to determine what we need to do for next year and if this is something we need to carry on or if there are changes.”
Reeve Greg Sawchuk felt because the MD has agreed to fund the program, council should receive a post-pilot report.
Dates have not been set for the registration day or spay and neuter clinic.
