Craig Street Cats

I am heartily disappointed today.  No, that is too weak.  I am thoroughly disgusted with changes to the TNR (trap / neuter / return) program that the Winnipeg Humane Society today published on its website.  These changes mark the death of the program.

As of today, any feral cat caregiver who takes a cat into the WHS for TNR will be identified as the owner of the cat.  They will be legally responsible for providing it with food, shelter and medical attention.  They will be liable for any fines the city imposes if the cat is trapped in the future.

As of today, the program is only offered from April through October, and only on those dates the WHS deems climatically appropriate.

As of today, traps may only be set when temperatures fall between 0 and 20C .  I really wonder how many days there will be this year, when the day time temperatures fall within that range?  I’m pretty certain that June, July and August will be no trapping months.  Most of September will be too hot.  Most of October too cold.  April is already pretty much over.

I specified day time temperatures because:

• traps must be checked at least every 3 hours
• you are more likely to trap a raccoon than a cat after dark

As of today, any cat that the WHS deems “social” will be appropriated by the WHS.  This means almost certain death.  Many feral cats are partially socialized.  They like to be near people.  They may even let people pet them.  This does not mean that they are pets.  It does not make them any less feral.  The WHS track record with this sort of semi-feral cat is dubious.   For obvious reasons, they specialize in immediately adoptable animals.  Cats that are not immediately adoptable face a very, very dismal fate if left with the WHS.  The vast majority of feral cats surrendered are immediately destroyed.

I am hopeful that the WHS will see the outright stupidity of this change in policy and make appropriate changes.  I am not, however, going to hold my breath.

Craig Street Cats will continue working to manage the feral cat population in Wolseley, with or without the WHS.  It may take us longer to achieve our goals.  We may have to redouble our fundraising efforts in order to pay the extra thousands of dollars in veterinary fees.  We will, however, continue.

Update, Apr. 24, 2009:  many people have asked how the TNR program has changed, and I think that the best way to demonstrate those changes is to allow people to see both the old and the new versions of the WHS “free” TNR program.  I managed to download the old program and convert it to a pdf file.  You can view it by clicking here.  The new program may be viewed by clicking here

It is important to note that Craig Street Cats has been registered with the WHS as an agency caring for feral cats, since March of 2008.  We have been trying since FEBRUARY of this year to book appointments for April through October, and the WHS does not return our calls.

We have been waiting since the changes to the TNR program were posted on the WHS website, for a response to our concerns regarding those changes.  To date, no one from the WHS has responded.

Update, Apr. 27, 2009:  The WHS has responded to our request for TNR appointments.  We now have appointments booked from May through October.  We are still waiting for a response to our concerns about the changes to the program.

Bob's ears, badly frostbitten

Winter does terrible things to a cat’s ears.  This photo shows how the damaged part of the ear shrivels and dries up.  The flesh was killed by the cold.

Bob, after one of his ears fell off

Eventually the dead flesh falls off, leaving a raw edge.

Bob's ear

This is what fell off.  Bob’s other ear will fall off, too.

One month to go.  On May 9 and 10 we will be having our first big fundraiser at R.A. Steen C.C., 980 Palmerston.  It’s a giant rummage and bake sale, with silent auction. 

For those who might not know what a rummage sale is, it’s sort of like a garage or yard sale, without the garage or yard

We’re ready to start accepting donations of gently used “stuff” for the rummage sale, new “stuff” for the silent auction, and special “stuff” to make into kid friendly items for Mother’s Day shopping.

If you’re cleaning out your garage or basement, please keep us in mind if you come across these sorts of things (in good repair, of course):

• toys and games
• books
• small appliances
• electronics (working stereo equipment, etc.)
• cd’s
• dvd’s
• small pieces of furniture (sorry, we don’t have room for the dining room suite)
• tools
• picture frames
• artwork
• shelves / stands / entertaiment units
• jewellry
• children’s clothing
• lawn furniture
• dishes / cutlery / serving pieces
• bric-a-brac / decorative items
• holiday decor (Christmas, Hallowe’en, etc.)
• camping equipment
• sporting goods
• bicycles
• any other “stuff” that might be appropriate for a rummage sale.

We are also looking for business or corporate sponsors to help us with the silent auction and pre-event expenses.  We will happily add you to our sponsor board and list your business on this site if you can help us.  You can download our sponsor letter for an idea of the sorts of things we’re looking for.

Because this event is on the Mother’s Day weekend, we want to have a special table where children can shop for their mothers and grandmothers.  For this we want new items that can be combined into attractive gifts that the kids can pick out on their own.  Examples might be mother themed coffee mugs, decorative soaps, small photo albums, photo frames, sample size bottles of various toiletries, etc.   Donations of these types of items will be especially welcome.

Volunteers are needed to help out before, during and after the event. 

Please email cats@wolseleygirl.com or call 223-6652 to arrange pick up or delivery of your donations, or to let us know that you want to help out.

Two very hungry babies

Say hello to Bob and Buddy.  These are the two babies that were found on Bannatyne and brought to me while I was doing fundraising at the Health Sciences Center. 

Bob is the darker orange fellow, with the folded ears.  All of the dark, purplish area on his ears will probably come off, because both ears were badly frostbitten.  If you look closely at his tail, you can see a purple area toward the end.  Bob’s tail has been broken about half way down, and will have to be amputated at the break.

Bob

Buddy, on the other hand, seems to be in very good condition.  Other than a serious case of ear mites, a minor URI, and obvious starvation, he seems to be healthy.

Buddy

Both Bob and Buddy are sweet tempered and cuddly.  They are available for adoption and will be able to go to their forever homes as soon as they are neutered and the vet gives them a clean bill of health.