Campbell River is one of 15 municipalities or non-profit organizations have been announced as recipients of the new BC SPCA Community Cat Spay/Neuter Grant Program.
The program, funded in part by an SPCA donor who was concerned about the cat overpopulation crisis in B.C., will provide up to 1,000 operations and prevent 5,000 kitten births this year in B.C. communities.
“Feral cats are of particular concern on Vancouver Island where colonies have grown as a result of pet abandonment,” says Amy Morris, officer of policy and outreach for the BC SPCA. She notes that nine of the grants have been awarded to Vancouver Island communities to help prevent further reproduction.
Across the province, $60,000 has been distributed to fund trap-neuter-return programs for feral cats and to provide low-income cat guardians with access to reduced-cost sterilization procedures for their pets.
The Campbell River SPCA, Sayward Abandoned Cat Rescue Society, Quadra Feral Cat Group and the Village of Gold River are local organizations receiving funding.
Eligibility for funding was determined by evidence of a community problem with homeless and unwanted cats, the ability to match funds within the community and the participation of a veterinarian willing to discount his or her services.
“Pet overpopulation is an issue in every community,” says Lorie Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the BC SPCA. “The BC SPCA spends nearly $2 million each year on spay/neuter initiatives across the province and we are very excited to launch this new initiative in partnership with municipalities and rescue organizations.”