Does the SPCA have meaningful plans for feral cats?

I quote from the BC SPCA Strategic Plan 2006-2008.

Directive 42

Feral Cats:

The Society has launched a modest number of initiatives to help alleviate the plight of feral cats. Were the necessary financial resources made available, the BC SPCA would gladly increase the number and scope of programmes in this area. As this is an area of concern to other organizations beside the SPCA, there may be possibilities to establish coalitions with other animal welfare organizations, municipalities and other interested parties to tackle this issue. Given the scarcity of available resources, it is perhaps best if the Society participates as an active member, rather than as the steering force of the coalition.

Directive 43 and 44 suggest that there could be more feral cats spay/neuter days and that local branches should try to find options for dealing with this problem

The SPCA’s mandate is to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. I feel that the group should be very active in this area. Feral cats seem to be near the bottom of the list of priorities. All animals have just one shot at life. If the group is killing healthy animals, this is incompatible with the SPCA’s mission. A spay/neuter/vaccinate/release programme would be great! People donate large amounts of money to the SPCA as they wish to help animals like the four kittens. The group certainly has the resources to run a programme efficiently.

BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell spoke briefly on feral cats in response to questions raised at an SPCA luncheon in Nanaimo on Wednesday, October 25. There is only so much room in a shelter, he explained, and if the shelter if full, the feral cats [maybe other cats too?] are out of luck. The policy remains to get foster parents for ferals, to transfer them elsewhere, or to euthanize (kill) them.

Ms. Durante, head of the Parksville shelter, says that the BC SPCA cannot afford to care for these cats. Do they think that these little private groups are rolling in money? A lot of them don’t even have tax-exempt status. People just use their own money.

I am unsure what tests were given to these kittens by the SPCA. Feral kittens (or cats) who have been dumped in a cage for five days are probably so terrorised that they will not show rapid behaviour improvements, whatever that means. It takes time, patience, gentleness, and hard work.