Vernon‘s feral cat problem could go from bad to better if the city‘s animal control group gets some money in its paws. The Vernon and District Animal Care Society is asking the city for a $5,000 grant towards a trap, neuter and release program which would curb the city‘s wild cat problem. Heather Pettit, president of the society, said no one wants to see the feral cat population explode, but the group needs help to stop that from happening. “We feel it‘s a community problem and we can‘t go on raising money to meet the demands of the public.” Last year the society spent $60,000 on veterinarian bills to help 500 cats. In addition to the trap, neuter and release program, the society helps low-income pet owners by helping to pay for spay and neuter costs. Through that program, the society has altered 1,050 cats in the last five years.
Pettit said Vernon‘s feral cat numbers are climbing because people are abandoning pets in addition to the cyclical problem of wild offspring having their own kitten litters the same year as they were born. “It just spirals out of control and you end up with starving, desperate cats going through garbages, spreading diseases and fighting.” Reports often come to the society of litters in Vernon‘s south end, near Polson Park Mall and in the north, near the big-box stores. “They‘re everywhere. Some people are not aware of it because they‘re good at hiding, but as soon as they start bothering businesses, then we hear about it,” said Pettit. She said the society regularly traps and releases cats from both those business areas, but rarely sees support from them. The group gets money to operate its two programs solely through fundraising and it is entirely volunteer-run. Two local veterinary offices give the society 50 per cent discounts on spaying and neutering as well as free tattoos, which certainly helps, but more money would mean help for more cats, said Pettit. She said a $5,000 grant from the city would pay for the cost to spay 70 females in the city. “That would really, really reduce the population.”
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