Humane Society Requests Funding For Spay/Neuter Program To Help Prevent Catastrophe
Statistically speaking the Moose Jaw Humane Society (MJHS) has been over run with an abundance of unwanted cats and because of that the MJHS has approached the City seeking funds to help nip the problem in the bud.
At a special meeting of Council held on November 24th the MJHS presented a proposal seeking $15,000 from the City of Moose Jaw to subsidize a cat spay and neuter subsidy program for low income residents. By doing so the Human Society hopes o have a major impact on the unwanted cat population coming through their doors.
“Our statistics show unwanted cats to be a much larger concern than unwanted dogs. The shelter hopes to see a decrease in the number of cats coming into our care due to this program,” Melissa Livingston MJHS shelter manager told Council.
A kitten that is in SCRAPS - MJ care - photo courtesy SCRAPS - MJ
In the past year the statistics show 443 stray cats came into the MJHS’ care with 79 re-united with their families leaving 364 cats unwanted and in the MJHS’ care.
“Only 18 percent of the cats were claimed. This explains why so often we are at capacity for cats at the shelter,” Livingston said.
The statistics show in the past a very grim future for cats that came into the MJHS’ care.
“In 2006 881 cats came into our care with 583 of them being euthanized, In 2010 828 cats came in and 108 of them were euthanized. In the last year we have had 551 cats come in, surrenders and transfers, and only 12 of them were euthanized. All of which were too ill for us to help,” she said.
Livingston said the MJHS is proud of the reduction in cats surrendered more needs to be done to reduce the numbers more with spaying and neutering being the most humane way for long term control of the unwanted cat population.
“We are proud of the fact that every adult (animal) leaving the shelter leaves either spayed or neutered. Most often at our expense. We believe this money is well spent to see those numbers reduced year after year...While we are extremely proud in the reduction of our euthanasian numbers, every one of them laid heavily on our hearts.”
The MJHS does its best and adopts cats throughout western Canada.
“Our staff works tirelessly to come up with creative ways to find homes for the unwanted animals in our community. We utilize our barn buddies program to give the cats that are more comfortable outdoors than indoors a chance to live their best life,” Livingston said.
Web-site tied into Adopt A Pet that broadens the reach for adoptable cats
Despite the successes Livingston said more than adoption needed to be done to drop the numbers of unwanted cats. That is where a subsidized spay, neuter and vaccination program for lower income Moose Javians cats is vital.
It is a program being offered with success by the City of Saskatoon.
“No matter how successful our adoption programs are, they alone will not solve the cat over population problem in the City of Moose Jaw. We had 551 cats come in, surrenders and transfers included, there are many cost to our City related to the over-population of cats.”
The hidden costs for unwanted cats includes policing, animal control, pound costs and the nuisance some roaming cats cause the community, Livingston said.
Direct costs include policing and animal control and impound costs for those cats that roam and cause a nuisance within our community.
She said a spay and neuter only long term non-lethal solution to reduce the number of the stray cat population. Adopted adult pets - both cat and dog - leave the MJHS ether spayed or neutered.
“During the pandemic everyone got a pet. Those that adopted through the Moose Jaw Humane Society pay a spay and neuter deposit that is built into our puppy and kitten adoption,” she said, adding “With prices rising on everything from food and gas to monthly expenses a lower income family will struggle to afford the cost of a spay or neuter. We receive more calls every year that want to do the right thing by spaying or neutering their pet but they just cannot simply afford it.”
As part of our proposed program a nominal $25 non refundable fee would be paid to ensure applicants take some responsibility in the process. Applicants would only be eligible based upon if their income fell below the Low Income Cutoff (LICO) as defined by Statistics Canada. The LICO defines the income level of families based upon their gross annual income and family size to determine if they can afford the necessities in life.
Applicants will be screened to see if they qualify under the LICO guidelines and is non-refundable whether approved or not.
The proposed program includes surgeries for spaying and neutering as well as two sets of vaccinations designed to help reduce the number of cat diseases in the city.
Cost for neuter at the Jaw Animal Clinic under the program is $125 for neutering and $237 for spaying a cat.
Councillor Dawn Luhning, who sat on the MJHS board on behalf of the City, said she would support the initiative when it comes forward in the budget deliberations.
“It is needed and valued in the community. And as you said other communities have this type of program. We need to have it. Moose Jaw needs to have it as well,” Councillor Luhning said.
A SUPPORTING VOICE
Ann Marcyszin from SCRAPS - MJ said although she was unaware of the MJHS’ request she can see great merit and supports any program that assists with neutering and spaying cats.
“Any time there is a spay and neuter program it is a good thing,” Marcyszin said when contacted for her thoughts on the program by MJ Independent.
Although the MJHS is more concentrated towards handling cats when they are pets and SCRAPS - MJ mandate is geared towards cats when they are feral she said there is a bit of an overlap as every feral feline in the city is the descendent of someone’s pet. On average it takes two to three generations of cats descending from a pet cat to become feral.
“Ultimately it is going to be a benefit,” she said about adding more tame house cats’ descendants into the feral population.
This year has been particularly tough for SCRAPS - MJ not only financially but also in the numbers of feral feline kittens which have exploded in numbers and is something Marcyszin cannot explain.
“Usually we see litters that are four or five kittens twice a year in the Spring and in the Fall but this years the litters are nine kittens and the litter season went from Spring to Fall,” she said. “I am not sure why.”
Two of the unprecedented number of kittens in 2021 now in SCRAPS - MJ care - photo courtesy SCRAPS - MJ
The number of kittens has strained SCRAPS - MJ which has had the organization struggling not only financially (due to the inability to hold their regular fundraising event due to COVID) but also physically trying to find foster placements for the large increase in the number of kittens requiring the group’s assistance.
SCRAPS, a registered charity, receives no City funding despite their work with the feral felines of Moose Jaw.
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Applicants pay a $25 non-refundable fee up front
Cost for neuter at the Jaw Animal Clinic under the program $125 and cat spay $237
Based on the Statistics Canada Low Income Cutoff