The Colony
Chronicles
The Newsletter of
Forgotten Felines of Forsyth
Volume Two, Issue One
January 2009
WS/FCS Career Center and Fur-Ever Friends Donate Feral Cat Houses
Contact
Information
Forgotten Felines of
Forsyth
302-A South Stratford Road, Box 3
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Promoting Non-traditional Feral-Free Roaming Strategies
By Matt Smith
Shelter Manager, Forsyth County Animal Control
The Carolina’s recently completed the first ever joint Animal Care & Control Conference. In November 2008 the North Carolina Animal Federation joined forces with the South Carolina Animal Care and Control Association to present a regional conference located at the Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, SC. The conference featured three tracks, Field Services, Shelter Management and Shelter Construction.
FCAC Director Tim Jennings and I were asked to prepare a Field Services workshop examining non-traditional public/private partnerships to address the difficult, and often, controversial, issues related to feral cats in the community. Our class was attended by approximately 60 representatives from animal care and control agencies in the southeast as well as feral cat rescue representatives.
Innovative feral cat programs are now gaining prominence throughout the animal care and control field. The traditional methods of handling feral cats are being examined by numerous agencies across the country. Answering citizen complaints regarding feral cat populations is a very expensive and time consuming endeavor that must be addressed by TNR proponents and Animal Control agencies alike.
Our presentation was based on our current working relationship with Forgotten Felines of Forsyth County. In 2007 we began meeting with the group’s representatives to discuss ways in which we could best benefit the community without overlooking the intent of local and state ordinances. Definitions had to be agreed upon. Drafts of the program had to be written, amended, and acceptable to both parties.
We presented attendees with copies of our agreement with Forgotten Felines and our programs guidelines and samples of other jurisdictions TNR Memos of Understanding, ordinances and programs. We also provided resources that would be beneficial to organizations in the beginning phases of starting similar programs.
The humane management of forgotten felines (feral, semi-feral, and stray).
I spoke on the main issue that interests me in TNR; community livability.
At Forsyth County Animal Control we believe it’s important to have an alternative to the traditional method of dealing with feral cats. For instance, in my neighborhood we had an issue with a small colony that developed about a year ago. Thanks to Forgotten Felines, this issue has been addressed in a way that all of our neighbors agree is the most humane. It also kept these cats out of our shelter. If a citizen calls about a feral cat situation, we can now offer the assistance of our partner group, Forgotten Felines.
We received positive feedback from attendees whose agencies are planning on developing, or improving existing programs that address feral cat issues.
It’s often said that timing is everything. After our November workshop, the December issue of the National Animal Control Association News, an industry trade magazine, was entirely devoted to featured articles on feral cats. It is refreshing to see agencies all over the country working towards limiting the number of feral cats entering shelters through partnerships with TNR advocates.
We appreciate the work that you do in making Forsyth County a better place for the animals and the people who care for them. We look forward to expanding our efforts in 2009.
