Pussy Patrol : Huntresses of stray cats

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

Francis Pilon

Tuesday, 27 march 2018 21:03

UPDATE
Tuesday, 27 march 2018 21:03

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The organization Pussy Patrol release the City of Montreal to be involved to stem the problem of overpopulation of cats in the metropolis, which is becoming rampant according to it.

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

Every weekend, Nancy Leclerc sneaks in the back alleys of Montreal, behind an abandoned building or even on the side of a highway in order to conduct rescue operations of cats.

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

Four years ago, she noticed an overpopulation of the feline in his neighborhood and has found that the City of Montréal did nothing to address this problem. Ms. Leclerc has, therefore, taken the bull by the horns to take care of these cats and was subsequently incorporated into the organization known as the Pussy Patrol as a volunteer.

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

“People call us and told us of the stray cats,” says Ms. Leclerc, who captures and brings then free the animals at the SPCA to sterilize them or treat them. We opted for the method of capture, neuter, release and maintain (CSRM). If the animal is apprivoisable, it is placed in a foster family.”

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

The volunteer explains that the SPCA provides free sterilisation service to the citizens, but that they must themselves bring stray animals. As very few citizens in the capture, the stray cats multiply at a substantial rate.

Overwhelmed

With his other two fellow volunteers within Pussy Patrol, which is able to operate through donations from the public, Nancy Leclerc asks the City of Montreal to stop ignore the situation.

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

“These days, the phone does not stop ringing, one is completely overwhelmed. It was a full-time job we also. We love to help, but if projet Montréal does not and continues to ignore this problem, we will never manage to reduce the overpopulation of cats in the metropolis.”

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

The organization considers that the situation is unprecedented and that there would be between 500 000 and 1 million stray cats in Montreal.

Sterilize

The borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve ensures that the program of CSRM implemented on their territory for around three years works for the better.

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

“Spaying and neutering the cats with the programme of CSRM is what works best in our area”, says Carlos Acosta, a political attaché for the borough.

Dario Ayala / QMI Agency

Although effective, this program is only available in 13 boroughs, what regrets, Anita Kapuscinska, head of communications at the SPCA of Montreal.

Pussy Patrol will meet Thursday, Craig Sauvé, councillor associated with services to citizens and mobility, and hope that their voices will be finally heard.

The City of Montreal has not given answers to our questions at the time of writing these lines.