Well, in the local paper today NorskeCanada confirmed they are going to trap and kill. Many letters have been sent to NorskeCanada but so far no response. Its very upsetting. Thanks to those of you who have taken time to write.. Here is my own personal letter to NorskeCanada.

April 23, 2003

I am writing in response to NorskeCanada’s decision to shut down the feral cat program at the Crofton Mill. As part of Cowichan Cat Rescue and one of the foster parents who cared for over one dozen of the kittens from the mill I am deeply saddened and angry over this decision. When NorskeCanada Crofon first approached us about the feral cat problems at the mill (they had actually already been doing trap and kill and it wasn’t working), we were able to present them with information on Trap-Neuter-Release programs and many many statistics on the success of these programs world-wide compared to the dismal statistics of a trap and kill program. We discussed the importance of educating the workers. The feeding stations were set up away from the main mill area, which encourages the cats to stay away from very busy areas. I got up late at night to drive out to Crofton to pick up kittens that had been trapped many times as did others in our group. Mr. McKendrick states that we refused to help them relocate the feral cats. We don’t have a shelter, we operate on donations and pop cans, where exactly are we supposed to put these cats? We were very clear right from the beginning of our discussions with them that we did not have a place to relocate these cats and it appears, neither does anyone else. Not once has Mr. McKendrick met with us to discuss the program and what we could do to help NorskeCanada to meet their needs, we got a visit from Mr. Klopper and were told that the program was over and that was that, no chance for discussion. The program was working! It was being SUCCESSFUL!! That will begin to show this year with 19 cats no longer breeding. Those that we didn’t trap will now have kittens and they will have kittens and the problem will grow and grow and grow. Statistics prove that they can trap and kill all they want and the problem will continue to exist and grow and there will be more and more incidents as the cats scrounge for food in dumpsters and in areas where there are people because they are so hungry. If anything, workers will be at more risk and NorskeCanada will spend more time and money than ever before trying to eradicate these cats. My hats off to you, NorkseCanada... you really showed me that my belief in NorskeCanada was wrong. I was so proud to say that NorskeCanada Crofton was DOING THE RIGHT THING and that they were a good community partner. Not any more.

Sherri Brooks
Foster Parent & Volunteer
Cowichan Cat Rescue