Feline fans feel frisky as Markham cat adoption centre OK'd

YorkRegion.com
July 2, 2015
By Laura Finney

The Thornhill Community Centre and Library will soon be home to a clowder of cats.

At its June 23 meeting, Markham Council approved the opening of an animal storefront, or Cat Adoption and Education Centre (CAEC) that will run out of the Thornhill centre.

“It’s a bold new initiative,” said Councillor Valerie Burke. “It’s very exciting.”

The idea to open a CAEC came when the city started looking at ways to increase cat adoptions and lower Markham’s higher than average euthanasia rate.

Several residents spoke in favour of the centre when the item came up in general committee earlier this month, and council unanimously supported it during a recorded vote.

But not everyone was in favour of the idea at first.

A group of senior citizens, who are part of the Thornhill Seniors Club wellness program that runs out of the centre, were worried that if the cats came in they would be out.

But they were able to relocate their program.

“Initially we were worried we would have to cancel some of our days,” said one of the program organizers. “But right now we are happy with the relocation.”

Burke said they were able to do some shuffling to accommodate both the cats and the other programs.

“We didn’t want to displace anybody,” she said.

The new Markham CAEC will be similar to two successful adoption centres in the Niagara and Welland areas. They are both located in retail locations in high traffic areas to help increase adoption rates.

According to a staff report, retail locations are too expensive to rent in Markham so staff looked at running the shelter out of a municipally owned property.

Additionally, any improvements made to the centre would be an asset for the city.

Thornhill Community Centre was a preferred location because of the high number of people who visit the centre, it is furthest away from the local Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) in Newmarket, and there is potential for programs and partnerships with schools, students, seniors and community groups.

“I think it will get so many people in the community involved,” Burke said.

Some of the programs suggested in the report include reading therapy programs, junior vet programs, animal care educational visits and anxiety therapy.

Thronhill also has a high proportion of Markham’s licensed pet owners.

The proposed room is used for a spin cycle class. According to the report, the room is located in the recently expanded upper atrium, has a separate entrance and is self-contained with a key lock door.

The centre will be fitted with a separate HVAC unit.

The OSPCA will manage the operation of the centre, which will be home to no more than 17 healthy and adoption ready cats.

According to the report, during the 2014 budget process council approved $150,000 for the implementation of the centre, $100,000 for annual operating costs and $50,000 for capital start-up.

The capital costs for the CAEC are just over $115,000 leaving approximately $65,000 shortfall.

Markham’s Animal Care Committee has raised over $30,000 for animal services and has committed those funds to the centre.

The remaining shortfall will be funded from the non-development charge contingency.

The annual budget will be about $99,000 with one full-time and one part-time staff member hired by the OSPCA. Volunteers will be recruited from both the city and the OSPCA.

Staff and the animal care committee are currently looking at potential sponsorships and will be accepting donations.

Staff is also looking at perusing a possible adoption fee revenue sharing arrangement with the OSPCA.

Burke said the centre should be ready later this year.

Staff will report back to council three years after it opens.