A recent report from a city committee in Winnipeg is advocating for adjustments to the responsible pet ownership bylaw, with a specific focus on addressing the feral cat population issue.
The proposed modifications, outlined in the agenda of the city’s standing policy committee on community services, suggest reinstating trap, neuter, and return programs for community cats, permitting Winnipeg residents to play a role in reducing the feral cat population.
Under this program, residents would responsibly trap feral cats, ensuring they undergo spaying/neutering and receive vaccinations before being released back into the community. The previous bylaw deemed individuals participating in such programs as “harbouring” the animals rather than owning them.
The initial bylaw altered the definition of a pet owner to include those “harbouring” an animal, implying that residents were technically considered owners and assumed ownership responsibilities for the cats.
The report recommends amending the bylaw to allow the resumption of trap, neuter, and return programs, accompanied by specific guidelines. These guidelines encompass providing necessary food and water to the cats, maintaining sanitary conditions in the location where the cat is harboured, and facilitating the removal and rehoming of adoptable cats.
Furthermore, the report underscores the benefits of spaying/neutering pets, emphasizing its positive impact on reducing pet overpopulation, aggression, cancer, and roaming.
As per the report, the Winnipeg Humane Society houses almost 5,000 cats annually and has a six-month waitlist for individuals seeking to surrender their cats.
The proposed amendments are set for discussion during the committee’s meeting scheduled for January 10.
