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--001a1135e5fcb27af604e9ebbc56 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hi folks, On information morning, cape Breton, this morning there was a news story about the number of domestic cats in Kings County, NS, that are impounded and the proportion of those that is subsequently euthanized; story also found at the link below: http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/nova-scotia/story/1.2286482 At the end of the article above there is a statement suggesting that money should be invested in trap, neuter, release programs and education about benefits of spaying/neutering. This story comes on the heels of a recent article released in the Canadian journal Avian Conservation and Ecology estimating that the number of birds killed annually in Canada by owned and feral cats is probably somewhere around 196 Million ( http://www.ace-eco.org/issues/view.php?sf=4) - a number that puts mortality by cats far above any other anthropogenic source of bird mortality. For some context on how many birds this represents see Partners In Flight estimates of bird species populations in Canada: http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates/Database.aspx . For example, there are estimated to be approximately 30 million Black-capped Chickadees, 140 million American Robins, and 13 million Chestnut-sided Warblers in Canada. Given that the negative impact of cats on bird populations is becoming increasingly measurable and NS's cat overpopulation crisis is receiving more and more attention (is it), the search for solutions to both is not that far off (is it?) As a resident of Kings County, myself, i am concerned that if there is not attention brought to the plight of birds (and other wildlife) at the hands of cats, then we will soon begin to see support sneak in for initiatives that attempt to improve welfare of cats but without consideration for the well being of our native bird (and other wildlife) populations. This is not a call to arms against cats or those who devote themselves to cat welfare; animal welfare is paramount to any naturalist. Just a call to arms about promoting fact- and science-based decision making and doing our best to make sure that the nature story makes the news too (how?). I imagine that the above news article on cat euthanasia will spark a significant amount of opinion and anger - and maybe prompt a change in where those cats end up. What would be our position? Cheers, James -- James Churchill Kentville, Nova Scotia jameslchurchill@gmail.com (902) 681-2374 --001a1135e5fcb27af604e9ebbc56 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi folks,<div><br></div><div><div>On information morning,=A0cape Breton,=A0= this morning there was a news story about the number of domestic=A0cats in = Kings County, NS,=A0that are impounded and the proportion of those that is= =A0subsequently=A0euthanized; story=A0also found at the link below:</div> <div><br></div><div><a href=3D"http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/nova-scotia= /story/1.2286482" target=3D"_blank">http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/nova-s= cotia/story/1.2286482</a><br></div></div><div><br></div><div>At the end of = the article above there is a statement suggesting that money should be inve= sted in trap, neuter, release programs and education about benefits of spay= ing/neutering.=A0<br> <div><br></div><div>This story=A0comes on the heels of a=A0recent article r= eleased in the Canadian=A0journal Avian Conservation and Ecology estimating= that the number of birds=A0killed annually in Canada=A0by owned and feral= =A0cats is probably=A0somewhere around 196 Million (<a href=3D"http://www.a= ce-eco.org/issues/view.php?sf=3D4" target=3D"_blank">http://www.ace-eco.org= /issues/view.php?sf=3D4</a>) - a number that puts mortality by cats far abo= ve=A0any other anthropogenic source of bird mortality.</div> <div><br></div><div>For=A0some=A0context on how many birds this represents= =A0see=A0Partners In Flight=A0estimates of bird species=A0populations in Ca= nada:=A0<a href=3D"http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates/Database.aspx" target=3D= "_blank">http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates/Database.aspx</a>=A0. For example,= there are estimated to be approximately 30 million Black-capped Chickadees= ,=A0140 million American Robins, and 13 million Chestnut-sided Warblers=A0i= n Canada.</div> </div><div><br></div>Given that the negative=A0impact of cats on bird popul= ations is becoming increasingly measurable<span></span>=A0and NS's cat = overpopulation crisis is receiving more and more attention (is it), the sea= rch for solutions to both is not that far off (is it?)<div> <br></div><div>As a resident=A0of Kings County, myself, i am=A0concerned th= at if there is not attention brought to the plight of birds (and other wild= life) at the hands of cats, then we will soon begin to see support sneak in= for initiatives that attempt to improve welfare of cats but without consid= eration for the well being of our native bird (and other wildlife)=A0popula= tions.=A0</div> <div><br></div><div>This is not=A0a=A0call to arms against cats or those wh= o devote themselves to cat welfare;=A0=A0animal welfare is paramount to any= naturalist.=A0Just a call to arms about promoting fact-=A0and science-base= d decision making and doing our best to make sure that the nature story=A0m= akes the news too (how?).</div> <div><br></div><div>I imagine that the above news article on cat euthanasia= will spark a significant amount of opinion and anger - and maybe prompt a = change in where those cats end up. What would be our position?</div><div> <br></div><div>Cheers,</div><div>James</div><br><div><br></div> <br><br>-- <br><div dir=3D"ltr">James Churchill<br>Kentville, Nova Scotia<b= r><a href=3D"mailto:jameslchurchill@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">jameslchur= chill@gmail.com</a><br>(902) 681-2374<br><br><br><br></div><br> --001a1135e5fcb27af604e9ebbc56--
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