Qualicum Beach News
Feral cats not diseased
Published: February 18, 2010 7:00 PM
Please allow me to respond to SPCA manager, Nadine Durante in the French Creek feral cats (The News, Feb. 12).
About 15 years ago, an older lady had a feeding station built at the marina and started feeding. She passed the feeding job to Vera and Jim and a dozen years ago I was asked to trap the babies and find them homes. I started trapping and spaying the adults and we financed it by having an annual garage sale at Vera’s.
A few years ago, I took over the daily feeding — $130 a month and the past three years I’ve been trapping, vaccinating and providing a worm and flea treatment which I pay myself.
The past two years a lot of kittens have shown up and this fall I trapped 21 kittens. Each one is spayed, vaccinated, de-wormed and de-flead and tamed so they can be adopted to good owners.
This led me to Bill and Linette’s colony. I spayed, vaccinated, de-wormed and de-flead five or six females and put them in touch with a society that led to the SPCA contract.
The second cat trapped was one of the above and it led to Nadine refusing any help. If she had asked Bill, I know he would have told her I spayed several.
My greatest concern is why she thinks the colony has feline leukemia. Not one cat or kitten tested by the vet has tested positive. So please tell us where you are getting your medical information?
The vet I use would never let me take a sick cat back nor would I ever let a cat suffer or spread a disease if I could help it.
Thank you to the people who called asking me to respond, I’m reluctant as it generates calls for help and I work to support my large cat habit.
Peggy Bodnar
Qualicum Beach