S.P.C.A. Wants Help To Cope With Cats

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31029, 7 April 1966, Page 3

S.P.C.A. Wants Help To Cope With Cats

(New Zealand Press Association). DANNEVIRKE, April 6. Disregard by many borough and city councils of work being undertaken by the S.P.C.A. in relieving the problem of unwanted cats is most discouraging, according to the Federation of S.P.C.A.S’ president, Mr C. C. Lennon.

He told the Dannevirke society by letter that the problem of unwanted and diseased cats in built-up areas, lay fairly and squarely with the local body, and expense incurred by the S.P.C.A. to relieve the situation should be met by the ratepayers. “For many years our socie-

ties have faced this problem throughout the country because of requests from residents asking to be relieved of stray cats," said Mr Lennon. Societies had taken the attitude that it was a humane act to catch and destroy these animals, rather than allow them to continue breeding and living under hatsh conditions. Believing that the local authorities would assist them financially, many societies had undertaken to do this type of work, but. with a few exceptions, no such assistance had been forthcoming, said Mr Lennon. Some societies, through lack of finance, had been forced to discontinue destroying stray cats. Mr Lennon appealed to all local bodies to face the problem in a practical manner.