Reaction has been swift to comments made by two Rideau Lakes Councillors concerning the cat population in the township and how to control it.
During a discussion by Rideau Lakes Council about the cat population, Inside Ottawa Valley reports that Councillor Jeff Banks said in part, “Maybe we catch a few of them and put them down… …That would probably be a good message to those people who are letting their cats run lose.”
Councillor Ron Pollard said, “Maybe if Coun. Banks could get five or six coyotes in it would house clean that area.”
Dave Lindstedt, President of the Lanark Animal Welfare Society wrote an open letter to Rideau Lakes Council in which he called the comments callous and misinformed.
He writes that the suggestion that euthanasia be used to teach cat owners a lesson is barbaric and cruel, and that he is willing to discuss options, and is sure other rescues will be happy to offer advice too.
Donna Macrae of Furry Tales Cat rescue told Lake 88 in a statement that says in part, “The only working and compassionate solution (to the cat population issues) is to Trap, Neuter and Release. It is proven that to trap and kill will not resolve the issue, but rather creates a void where new cats will move in.”
Macrae has also offered to speak to council about the issue.
Rideau Lakes Council defeated a motion to explore the issue further by a vote of 7-2, stating that if the next council, elected in October, would like to re-open the issue they could.
Lake 88 has reached out to both councillors to see if they have any further comment.
Here is Macrae’s full statement:
Twp of Rideau Lakes
We are writing to express our sincere disappointment for the comments made at the April 12, 2022 meeting with respect to the stray cat population. We specifically wish to address the comments made by Counc. Jeff Banks and Ron Pollard which suggests euthanizing cats or bringing in coyotes to kill the cats to rectify the issue.
We are enclosing information that verifies the only working and compassionate solution is to Trap, Neuter and Release. It is proven that to trap and kill will not resolve the issue, but rather creates a void where new cats will move in.
Read the complete open letter from LAWS:
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