EDMONTON – The Edmonton Humane Society hosted its first Trap Neuter Return Clinic on Saturday as it works with the Canadian Animal Task Force to tackle wildcat overpopulation in Alberta.
Eighty-nine cats were part of the clinic, including 58 adults and 31 kittens. They were on a rural estate northeast of Edmonton.
Each of the adult cats that are part of the clinic will be spayed or neutered and then returned to the colony upon recovery.
Kittens who are more likely to be socialized are housed in humane society until they can be neutered or neutered. They will then be put up for adoption.
“We want to make sure that the animals that live in our community are healthy and safe and that we are protecting wildlife and the rest of the environment,” said Liza Sunley, CEO of the Edmonton Humane Society.
“Events like this help us humanly deliver this spay and neuter service,” she added.
All of the cats in the colony are healthy, Sunley said. You were caught on Friday, will be operated on on Saturday and released on Sunday.
In addition to neutering or neutering, every cat receives a permanent ID, is treated against parasites and vaccinated.
The Edmonton Humane Society became aware of the wildcat colony in collaboration with the Canadian Animal Task Force.
“We were really grateful that we could support this,” said Sunley. “It is a big effort.”
Sunley added that they are familiar with many rural wildcat colonies across the region.
“We are working with our Canadian Animal Task Force partners who work specifically in this area to help us identify where these colonies are and how we can be involved in solving this problem.”
OVERPOPULATION OF MANAGE CATS A PROBLEM ACROSS CANADA
“Most people know the importance of spaying and neutering their animals, but when they are caring for large numbers of wild animals, there are several barriers that prevent people from bringing their animals in,” said RJ Bailot, general manager and co-founder of the Canadian of Task Force on Animals.
“Right now we are seeing across Canada that there is a cat problem,” he added. “Shelters are usually full, they disturb neighboring properties and then of course there are health problems. When cats get by without veterinary care, we see a lot of health problems. “
Bailot said that prior to operating a trap spay and neuter return clinic, the Canadian Animal Task Force is making sure the cats have a safe place to return to.
While this is the first collaboration between the task force and humane society in Edmonton, Bailot added that they have worked across the province. The task force has neutered and neutered more than 15,000 animals since it was founded in 2007.
“We work in very remote areas and in urban environments because there is a feline problem in every part of the province,” he said.
According to Bailot, the task force receives three requests a week for assistance with wild cat colonies.
“Right now the Canadian Animal Task Force runs a clinic every two weeks,” he said.
All of the work is done by volunteers and driven by donations to the Canadian Animal Task Force and all collaborators such as the Edmonton Humane Society.
It costs between $ 5,000 and $ 20,000 to run a clinic.
