Life on the rocks....

Dawn breaks slowly over the frozen shores of Lake Erie. Massive mountains of ice lay jumbled along the lake where water meets land. Man-made shoreline consisting of piles of snow and ice covered rocks, intended to keep erosion at bay, is now home to a growing colony of feral cats. Assorted shapes, sizes and colours, there are a couple that are probably only 3 - 4 months old. Who knows how they came to live at this unlikely location. They may be a splinter group from a nearby colony or some may have been dropped off there at some point, abandoned by their human caretakers - one can only speculate. Now this is the only home they know. They have managed to survive, at least for now, the frigid temperatures, raging blizzards and howling winds that this winter season has unleashed on them. Thanks to kind souls that supply them with food and fill up the little spaces between the rocks with straw where they huddle to keep warm, they are alive. Sadly, females who are no more than kittens themselves may already be pregnant with the first litters of 2009. Is this any way to treat creatures that were domesticated by man and were more than likely someones companion animal? We think not. Trap, neuter, return, along with a dedicated volunteer caretaker and appropriate shelter will ensure that they receive the best quality of life under the circumstances. We think it's only fair...

See what the 'No Kill' revolution is all about......

T-N-R: a primer

Lots of folks are asking, 'Well, what exactly is T-N-R?' Great question! Trap, neuter, return, commonly referred to as T-N-R, is a simple, elegant model that is a proven solution to the feral cat epidemic sweeping North America and beyond. This humane and ethical programme provides for a designated, volunteer caretaker to feed, monitor and shelter the colony, live trapping the cats within the colony to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated where appropriate and ear-tipped, which identifies the cat as being sterilized. The cats are then returned to the colony where they are fed and monitored for the remainder of their natural lives. The caretaker closely monitors for the arrival of any new cats which require sterilization, as well as any cats/kittens that may be adoptable.

Statistics show that managed T-N-R programmes show a definite decline in the feral cat population, as well as a decline in euthanasia rates. In order for it to be effective there must exist a very strong degree of collaboration between the many stakeholders in the community. For example, the co-operation of the caretaker is required to facilitate the trapping and provide long-term oversight. A local veterinarian is needed to provide discounted spay/neuter surgeries. For the cats' long-term security, the owner of the property and neighbours need to understand and accept what is being done. The municipality will also play a role in determining whether a managed colony will be permitted and endorsed.

Animal control/humane societies, public health officials, elected officials such as the mayor and city council and city employees need to be working partners in the collaborative effort. Community residents need to be educated and consulted so they do not resist or resent the process. Presentations at every age within the school system are an excellent way to reinforce the concept that all domestic cats deserve loving, permanent homes with responsible caretakers.

So, while we said earlier that it is 'simple', it is in fact a complex undertaking that requires all stakeholders to join together, initially creating a dialogue and then working together towards embracing and acceptance of the T-N-R philosophy.