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Oshawa Lakeview Park Colony

 

STATUS May, 2009:

Goldie gets a temporary reprieve....

Oshawa City Council's recommendation was "That the enforcement of the City of Oshawa Parks By-Law, Responsible Pet Owners By-law, and Property Standards By-law, as it relates to the presence and physical impacts of the feral cat colony at Lakeview Park and abutting lands, be suspended until Council makes a final decision on a feral cat management plan.".

In addition from the Finance and Administration meeting minutes on May 7, 2009...."In December 2008, staff was directed to consider concerns raised regarding feral cats at Lakeview Park in their review of the Responsible Pet Owners' By-law.  The draft by-law requires cats to be licensed and to generally be kept under control and indoors.  Whether abandoned "feral" cats should be permitted to roam unattended in the community is a policy decision which is not appropriately regulated by by-law.  The management of a feral cat colony requires a strategy and partnership between the municipality and the community to manage the cat population."

An unexpected and progressive change was also made  to Oshawa's Responsible Pet Owners bylaw allowing foster homes to have more than the legal limit of animals within the household if approved by the Manager(city representative) for a period of time no longer than eight months.

 

Could this article be the explanation for all the supposed resentment regarding the cats?

Cash for Shovel-Ready Oshawa Harbour

 Toronto Star – April 9, 2009

 

In 2006 Denise discovered 60 cats residing at this Oshawa waterfront park with more obviously and imminently about to be born.  She single handedly trapped and neutered these 60+ cats, after which she released approximately 15 that were deemed unadoptable (i.e. feral or semi-feral), and found homes for the remaining 45.  She arranged to have feeding stations set up and maintained on a daily basis along with providing cat houses that were winterized with fresh straw each fall.  This is not a static colony by any means.  The good citizens of Oshawa have used it as a dumping ground for their unwanted cats for quite some time.  Since January of this year we have found 3 newcomers.  Yes, people abandon animals in subzero temperatures.

The Feeding Stations and Remaining Cat Shelters

Unfortunately there had been a complaint made by one citizen.  The irony is that

n     the person did not live at the location at the time of the complaint and still does not reside there to date,

n      that this person was instrumental in creating the colony by abandoning an unneutered cat at the site.  This person acknowledges that she found homes for the kittens born at the site….but did nothing regarding the mother cat(s).

n      that there is absolutely no mention that the size of the colony has decreased by 75% because of Trap Neuter Release procedures followed by AVA and funded by AVA

n      that because of the lack of maintenance at the property in question, people did unfortunately mistake it for an abandoned or publicly owned piece of real estate and therefore would mistakenly leave food dishes there. 

n     The complainant obviously does not respect property herself as two of  AVA's cat houses have been seen moved to property in question and badly damaged..

n     No complaints seem to have made the press regards the Sea Gulls and Canadian Geese that far outnumber the cats.

This Conflict could be resolved by a simple sign directing people to the feeding station. Of course this would mean obtaining permission from the city….

Below are the repercussions of that complaint....... 

In December, 2008 the feeders at the colony told Denise that the new cat houses she had just delivered and the old cat houses (which she had just refurbished with straw, etc.) were missing.  One had been removed by Oshawa Parks and Oshawa Animal Services and the other 2 were eventually seen on the derelict property of the complainant....all. because of a complaint by one citizen.  See following article: http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/115270

 

In a mid December meeting that Denise had requested to have with city council, a meeting also precipitated by a wonderful letter written by Michelle Cowie, (a must read) ....it was resolved that the shelters and food dishes could remain until April 30th, 2009.  The Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw is to be reviewed in the spring and the feral cat issue is to be included in the issue. Liz White from Animal Alliance gave invaluable support. See: http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/115573

 

And January 30th, 2009 this article appeared: http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/118237   The wet orange cat is Goldie...a nice guy....And by the way, cats do not burrow.  They are opportunists.  They see a hole, they will nest.  And if the cat houses were left alone that is where they'd stay.  As for visible food dishes etc.  they are left probably by well meaning people who are not aware that it is a controlled colony with set feeding stations in places away from the public paths.  Signs could have been provided to make the public aware that these cats are being fed and so not to feed but circumstances as they are forced us to operate as inconspicuously as possible.

 

And in February, this article appeared: http://www.oshawaexpress.ca/story1468.html

 

 Complainant's property – after "clean-up" – April 17th, 2009

Is this being sold?

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 26th, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 26th, 2009....Two weeks ago the feeders at the colony said cats were missing and there was a suspicious white powder strewn about.  Denise located cats at Oshawa Animal Control and has been continuing to locate other cats there over the past 2 weeks while continuing to try to recapture the rest.  It is happenstance that they were found.  Being semi feral to feral means death within the week.  Three cats have disappeared permanently since the fall.

 

   Rolly is safe….home from Animal control!  A very special thanks must go to Barb North for her letter to the Oshawa town councilors making them aware of what was going on, pointing out oversights, and providing suggestions as to how things should be done.  Would have loved to have included  it on the page but.....names were mentioned.

 

 

 

Those are not cats in the photo...they are gulls......

 

 

 

Bluffer's Park Colony

 

There was a complaint regarding the TNR'ed and well maintained Bluffer's Park cat colony.  This situation made the news on Friday, June 19th, 2009 and the existence of this colony is threatened.  I am sure many of you remember the photos of these gorgeous, robust cats that used to grace Dr. Singh's walls, photos that were inspirational to anyone new to the TNR concept. 

 

Please see the articles in the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun(nice video included)....by using the following links: 

 

http://www.thestar.com/gta/fixer/article/653453

 

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/06/19/9847666-sun.html#/news/torontoandgta/2009/06/19/pf-9847666.html 

 

And then please do lend your support for the existence of this colony by writing to:

webmaster@torontohumanesociety.com