Seniors not purring over cat adoption centre in Thornhill

Yorkregion.com
June 4, 2015
By Laura Finney

One city proposal to help decrease the number of shelter cats euthanized in Markham has upset a group of senior citizens in Thornhill.

The proposal would see an animal adoption and education centre for cats and possibly other small animals operate out of the Thornhill Community Centre.

But a group of residents, who are part of a senior fitness wellness class at the centre, are worried that if the cats come in, they will be out.

“Our group definitely is against this type of thing because the Thornhill Community Centre was designed and built for people,” said Karl Urban during a public meeting on Friday. “And people should come first.”

He said the wellness program helps people with issues such as high blood pressure, stress and arthritis.

“We love animals, but it would be highly irresponsible to try to accommodate animals here, especially if it means reduced programs for people,” he said.

The idea to look for a new adoption centre came from Markham council in 2012 when it received a report about animal services.

Part of the report asked city staff to look at the feasibility of establishing an adoption centre in Markham, said Chris Alexander, acting manager of bylaw services with the city, who gave a presentation during the meeting.

In Canada, about half of shelter cats are euthanized, Alexander explained.

“One of every two cats that goes into a shelter doesn’t come out,” he said.

But in Markham that number was higher. In 2013 the rate was about 60 per cent, he said. “We recognized very quickly we had an issue,” he said.

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) located in Newmarket, is the service provider for patrols, bylaw enforcement and adoption in Markham.

In 2014, the Ontario SPCA went into a number of local pet stores, bringing the animals to the residents, instead of waiting for the residents to come to a shelter.

“In one year, we were able to reduce the euthanasia rate in Markham alone by 21 per cent. That was just phenomenal,” said Alexander.

Staff looked at two adoption centres in the Niagara area, both located in storefronts in retail and high traffic areas. And the results were good.

One centre had adopted out 675 cats in seven months. The other shelter adopted out 500 cats annually, he said.
Alexander said staff got their ideas for an adoption centre from the Niagara models.

Their first choice was to locate the centre inside a mall or retail centre, he said. They also looked at locating it in a commercial strip mall.

But these options added additional costs with rent and any necessary improvements.

“If we are going to spend money, we want to spend it in our facility,” said Alexander.

Another option looked at using a vacant municipal facility, such as the fire station on John Street.

But Alexander said it would not have a sufficient amount of traffic.

On the other hand, the Thornhill Community Centre would have no rental costs and would provide a lot of traffic, he said.

However, one of the programmers of the wellness group said the program has been running for three years, and in that time has grown from about 15 people to more than 90.

She said they use the centre almost every day and already have to juggle for space, adding they don’t want to see this proposal for a cat adoption centre affect programs at the centre.

Another resident said participants were told there would be no space for them if the adoption shelter came in, because their group is so large.

“There is no other space yet,” said Brian Bailey, community program supervisor, who added city staff would have to do some shuffling and co-ordinating.

Other residents brought up concerns about allergies or illnesses from the animals, but Alexander said the room would have a self-contained HVAC unit.

And the cats would come adoption-ready. They will have been spayed or neutered, they will have had their vaccinations and they will be in good health, said Alexander.

If approved, the Ontario SPCA would provide all the services, including staffing, adoptions and maintenance.

The final decision about an animal adoption centre will be up to council. Alexander said he hopes to bring a report to the general committee meeting, most likely on June 15.