The Lost Dogs’ Home is Saving Street Cats From Neglect

The Lost Dogs’ Home’s veterinary team is again busy performing spay and neuter surgeries on ‘semi-owned’ cats as part of the current Who’s For Cats campaign. From 1 March to 12 April 2010, The Lost Dogs’ Home is desexing and microchipping ‘semi-owned’ cats for a heavily discounted fee of $85. “Victoria has an estimated stray cat population of over half a million. The Who’s For Cats program encourages carers of street cats to take full responsibility for them by having them desexed and microchipped at a heavily reduced fee. The program so far has prevented hundreds of kittens being born into lives of severe disease, neglect and starvation,” said Clinic Manager Dr Larry Colson. “Further, these former street cats are now fully owned and cared for, decreasing their risk of suffering from starvation, cat flu, cat bite abscesses, flea infestations, feline AIDS or being hit by cars”. Many people believe they are doing the right thing by feeding stray cats. In fact, they are worsening the problem by ensuring the production of more unowned and unwanted kittens. Carol is one such person who is glad she took full ownership of Banjo. “Twelve months ago he was a starving stray but unlike the many feral cats around, he hung around the house, much to the disappointment of our resident cats. He was very timid but my husband Graeme spent many hours feeding and talking to him until one day he was able to pick him up. I spent time with him until I was able to cage him and take him to the vet to be vaccinated, microchipped and desexed him. He is a most affectionate cat and loves our dog Sasha,” said Carol. The Lost Dogs’ Home urges people feeding stray cats to: • Take full ownership by having the cat desexed and microchipped, or • Take the cat to the local animal pound/shelter to be assessed for possible adoption by a new owner. If you think you qualify as a semi-owner, there is still time to take advantage of The Lost Dogs’ Home’s discounted desexing offer ($85 or $65 for pensioners/health care card holders). This offer will be available until 12 April 2010.