Spay/Neuter Programmes

In Nanaimo our SPCA received a $25 000 grant to help with a low-income spay/neuter programme for cats. It was a real battle with the council and the resident cat haters! The SPCA has been wonderful and many other groups have been helped by them. I would have liked to see some money given directly to the Feral Cat people, but that didn't happen.

As with all these programmes, the problem is getting through to people who really need them. So many disadvantaged people don’t read newspapers and many don’t have radios. Most of them have no cars and transporting animals to veterinary offices or the SPCA on public buses and picking the cats up again is impossible- especially for seniors and the disabled.

The point was really bought home last week. I went to pick up a stray kitten, who had been perilously close to a chained pit bull. He was taken in by a very kind, but obviously very poor, lady- not too mobile. She lived in a really shabby building in the downtown core, but she was obviously totally dedicated to her two cats- Zeke and Balou. There was ample food on the floor. Neither cat (both adults)had been fixed, although she did express an interest. They were mother and son. Both were indoor/outdoor cats. Anyway, the outcome was that I got all the paperwork done, took both cats to the vets the following morning and returned them the same evening with a cat food gift. She didn't have to step out of her door. I called yesterday and they are doing fine. I have volunteered to help with a formal programme like this in the future, as it’s so important.

I think that billboards may be the answer to getting the message out to the low income pet owners. I also think it is mandatory to have a pick-up/return service for animals. I’d also like to see much less of this “Prove you’re poor stuff.” Over my years of teaching inner city kids, I’d say that many people would rather starve (or let their cats breed) than produce a welfare or disability certificate.

Anybody have any ideas? I know that most of us have been involved with this type of programme. We have to make them work.