FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Lynne Scott
Craig Street Cats
lscott@craigstcats.ca

Candidates Asked to State Position on Community Cat Program

Winnipeg, MB, October 22, 2018: Candidates in Winnipeg's civic election are being asked to state their position on a Pledge of Compassion and Action for Winnipeg's community cats. Craig Street Cats has started an email campaign encouraging voters to email their candidates regarding the issue.

According to CSC Executive Director, Lynne Scott, voters are being asked to email their candidates, and report back on any replies they receive. The following sample email has been posted for general use:
I am writing over my concern about the community cat problem in Winnipeg, and would like to know your position on the subject. Please indicate your support for a comprehensive, compassionate, course of action to help manage Winnipeg's cat population by responding to the following pledge:

There are over 100,000 community cats living on Winnipeg's streets, and the population continues to grow.

If elected to Winnipeg City Council, I, _____________________, pledge to help the cats. I will support a comprehensive feline population control program to humanely control the feline population and prevent suffering.

Such a program would include, but is not limited to:

-- adoption of trap, neuter, return as the preferred method of population control for Winnipeg's community cats
-- implementation of an affordable and accessible spay/neuter program.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Your response will help me decide how to cast my vote.

Scott says the campaign was prompted by Animal Services' treatment of citizens who are trying to manage the cat population in their neighbourhood, using trap, neuter, return. "It truly is time for this city to move into the 21st century with its animal control bylaw, and stop harassing those who are doing the city's job for them."

About Craig Street Cats: Craig Street Cats is a non-profit organization working to humanely reduce Winnipeg's free roaming cat population, rescue kittens and educate the public about community cats. CSC is the largest cat specific animal welfare organization in Winnipeg, caring for over 750 cats in its managed colonies, foster homes and adoption centre.
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I just finished watching a news piece about how hard it is for Manitoba dog rescues to keep up with the number of dogs in this province.  I do not want to cast shade on dog rescues.  They work hard and do good work, but while I was watching that news piece, I was struck by the notion that neither the reporter, nor the rescue people have any idea what overwhelming numbers really are.

People involved in cat rescue and community cat programs can tell you, in great detail, exactly what constitutes "overwhelming numbers".  Here are ours:
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• 100,000+  Number of cats living on Winnipeg streets
• 300,000+  Number of kittens born on Winnipeg streets this year
• 225,000+  Number of kittens dying on Winnipeg streets this year
• ~8,000    Number of kittens 'rescued' this year
• 18,000+   Number of cats and kittens that will die over the winter
• 50,000+   Number of kittens that survive winter to join the breeding population next year
• 12,000+   Number of cats we've had to turn away so far this year.  12,000 cats that are still on the streets and reproducing.  That number will likely hit 20,000 before the end of the year.

More overwhelming numbers:

• $25,000+ owed to vet for services rendered (thank you, Dr. Keri, for your incredible patience)
• $20,000  needed to cover cost of recent distemper outbreak
• $20,000  outstanding bills that must be paid
• $60,000  ANNUAL COST OF CARING FOR CATS THAT ARE DUMPED ON US, WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION (tossed in the door, left in the parking lot, thrown into dumpster, etc.)
• $30,000   monthly cost to continue in operation
• $21,000   average monthly income, from all sources

These are truly overwhelming numbers.  If you'd like to help conquer them, please make a donation.  Here's what your dollars can buy:

• $10:  vaccinate 1 cat against distemper (feline parvovirus) and upper respiratory infections
• $25:  feed one cat for one month
• $30:  intake cost for one cat or kitten (initial vaccination, deworming, flea / earmite treatment)
• $85:  spay or neuter one cat
• $100:  feed and house one cat for one month
• $100:  feed a litter of 5 bottle babies for 1 week
• $100:  provide a complete kitten series of FVRCP vaccinations for 1 kitten
• $200:  feed and house a mother cat and her kittens for one month
• $500:  feed a litter of 5 bottle babies for 1 month
• $1,000:  pay our Hydro bill for 1 month

craigstreetcats.ca/donate.html
Thank you.