City of Lethbridge needs to do more to address stray cat population

By Lethbridge Herald on June 3, 2022.

Editor:

Seeing the cat population in Lethbridge grow to what feels like an out of control level has been bad enough – but when I found a stray who was in desperate need of help and couldn’t find a rescue in Lethbridge, Claresholm, Pincher Creek, etc. to take her in, that’s when I realized how bad the situation is.

 Before my experience this week, I truly thought – find a stray, bring it to a shelter, animal gets medical attention, is adopted by a good home, problem solved. 

I was told by NOKA (No Kill Animal Association) to “just keep calling and eventually there will be a spot for the cat somewhere” The volunteer I spoke with wasn’t being cruel, she was just stating a fact.

LCCR (Last Chance Cat Ranch) stepped up after conversing with them through email (15 emails in total) They finally had an opening.

When we dropped the cat off at LCCR intake, my eyes were opened. I saw just how much these volunteers care about these stray cats. 

They want to solve the problem, not just put a band-aid over it. 

Unfortunately they’re working within the restrictions laid out by the City of Lethbridge, and the strain on their rescue efforts shows. 

I’m an animal lover myself and have owned many rescue dogs and cats throughout the years. 

The current way the City of Lethbridge is responding to the stray crisis (specifically cats) is a good start but is not enough to reverse the current situation.

This has become a community crisis and needs to be resolved by the City of Lethbridge before it gets to a point we can’t return from.

Carly Adamson 

Lethbridge