Humane society warns about ad

The Wild Rose Humane Society is warning residents about a possible cat–trapping scheme in Airdrie.

A dubious ad on Kijiji, posted from a Prince George, B.C. address last month, offers to trap problem cats in Airdrie.

The society, which is currently fundraising to build a shelter to service the area including Airdrie north to Olds, is urging residents to not reply to the ad, which did not include any details such as the cost of the service.

“The Humane Society was asked about (the ad) and it was discussed and we felt it wouldn’t be very good to trap cats in these winter months,” said Warren Wright, spokesperson for the society.

“If you trap a cat … it could succumb to the elements and exposure.”

Wright said although stray cats can be a problem, it is important to be responsible when addressing the issue.

He said there may be better ways to deal with strays, including using a non-toxic cat irritant.

“I encourage people to look for safe alternatives,” he said, adding it is uncertain what the person behind the Kijiji ad’s motivation, priorities and credentials are.

Daryl Poburan, the City’s manager of municipal enforcement, said there is no cat bylaw in Airdrie, although the subject comes up every few years.

He said last year municipal enforcement received about 207 complaints about cats, well below the more than 1,000 calls about dog concerns such as barking and running at large.

“We do get phone calls,” said Poburan. “(We tell people) they can trap cats, but we ask them to use a humane trap, something that won’t harm the cat.”

He added it is important to check traps frequently to ensure the animals are healthy.

He said residents should take captured cats to an area humane society, adding the City doesn’t loan out traps.

Poburan said it is a challenge for a lot of municipalities to deal with cats because of the amount of staff that would be needed and the expenses involved in trapping and caring for cats.

Mayor Peter Brown agreed, saying his research has pointed out education may be preferable.

“It’s very hard to enforce (a cat bylaw),” he said, adding there are a number of municipalities within Alberta with bylaws about felines.

“It’s not just capturing the cat, it’s storing the cat, cleaning up after the cat, contacting the owner … there is such a prolific process.”

Brown said staff will present a report to council next month, on how residents should care for their pets and how to keep strays off their property.

Poburan said residents concerned about cats coming onto their property can find information on the City’s website at www.airdrie.ca

Online contest

Wright is also asking residents to take the time to participate in an online voting competition to benefit the Wild Rose Humane Society, first created in 2007.

The organization has been selected as one of the finalists in Share the Bounty, a giveaway hosted by Nature’s Bounty, a company specializing in health supplements.

The society has the opportunity to win up to $20,000. The money, said Wright, will go towards building a shelter between Airdrie and Olds.

Participants can vote every day online until March 29 at www.sharethebounty.ca by choosing Wild Rose Humane Society from the list of charities, entering their email address and submitting their vote.

Wright said a shelter is needed in the area because there are more stray and abandoned animals than there are spaces to care for them.

“Unfortunately, a lot of the shelters in Red Deer and Calgary are full and are looking for space for their animals,” he said.

For more information about the society, visit www.wildrosehumane.ca