It still begs the question that if Calgary can change a by-law to ban free roaming cats why can¡¯t other jurisdictions? All of the research has been done ¨C there is no question that having free-roaming cats is neither good for the cat or other animals!
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Derek
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Yes, disappointing given the dearth of info the SCBC, Cats and Birds, Audubon and the ABC have done to raise awareness on this issue. Having said that it¡¯s important to look at the context/perspective the article was written from. It¡¯s about cat welfare and management from organizations focused on those aspects.
I know from experience the cat health/safety/welfare aspect is felt to have better traction with cat owners than the wildlife threat aspect.
See research on this.
See
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Whether that was what influenced the direction of this article, I can¡¯t say. But it is a reality.
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I co-presented at a previous Humane Canada conference on cat management with SCBC, BCSPCA and Elizabeth Gow (now with Environment and Climate Change Canada) who has researched the of feral and free-ranging cat management. I provided a perspective from Surrey, focused mainly on the crisis in abandoned, feral cats in the City, working in the biodiversity impact context as a factor, but also recognizing this is mainly a humane behaviour, societal issue.
Pamela Zevit RPBio | Biodiversity Conservation Planner
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T 604.590.7254
I am privileged to work on the shared traditional territories (t¨¦m:¨¦xw) of the s?my¨¢m? (Semiahmoo), sq??c?iy?a?? (Katzie), K?ik?????m (Kwikwetlem), q??¨»:n????n? (Kwantlen), Qiq¨¦yt (Qayqayt), Sc??wa¦È?n (Tsawwassen) and x?m?¦Èk??y??m (Musqueam).
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Hi Dan,
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And this is despite all the work done by the Stewardship Centre for BC () initiating two research projects to collect on-the-ground information about outdoor cats and birds? using standardized methodology and computer models to produce population estimates and inform management plans for keeping cats and birds safe, and all the work we did at VARC last year () including offering a $1,000 prize for the person who built the best catio that allows cats to enjoy the outdoors without being able to roam freely injuring themselves or other wildlife.
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I don¡¯t know why we continue to debate the issue of free-roaming cats ¨C they are not native animals and are a year-round threat not only to birds but to small animals such as bats, chipmunks, snakes, lizards and rodents, many of which are also threatened species.
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The City of Calgary passed a by-law banning free-roaming cats, so it¡¯s not that by-laws can¡¯t be changed, it¡¯s because there isn¡¯t the political will and our politicians are afraid of upsetting cat owners ¨C it¡¯s madness!
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Sorry to rant!
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Derek
| Derek J. Matthews
Chairman, ?Director Communication
NABC Certified Trainer
Vancouver?Avian Research Centre
Registered Canadian Charity #82118 2656 RR0001
4115, East Braemar Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7K 3C9
T: (604) 218-1191
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-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel Bastaja
Sent: May 23, 2023 8:03 AM
To: Vanbirds <[email protected]>
Subject: [vanbcbirds] Cat article
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An article in Vancouver Is Awesome about keeping cats indoors. What I found astounding is that the entire article is about the health and safety risks to the cats if they are left to wander and breed at will. There is only a single line about the impact domestic cats have on wildlife. It has been estimated that cats kill over 2 billion birds annually - bird populations that are already under immense pressure from habitat loss, pesticides, etc.? -? yet this PARAMOUNT reason for keeping cats indoors is afforded only 15 words in a 932 word article! Yet again, birds are an afterthought, or not thought of at all.
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Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...
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Derek Matthews