City TNVR Updates and SNKI’s Role

There is a very nice article, written by Elliot Ferguson, in the February 19th, 2019 edition of the Kingston Whig Standard which addresses, in part, the need for a high-volume, reduced cost, spay/neuter clinic – something for which SNKI has been advocating for quite some time.

https://www.thewhig.com/…/animal-activist-worries-about-f

SNKI began operating in 2009 and, due to massive need, was the first organization in Kingston to provide TNVR services in the area. In 2014, SNKI was asked by the City of Kingston to oversee the new City of Kingston TNVR Program since we had a very successful TNVR program already in place. SNKI agreed to do this in conjunction with our own active TNVR program.

In response to public input from our facebook page, we wish to clarify that SNKI did not “drop the ball” nor did we “walk away”. TNVR is a band-aid solution at best, is not the answer to the problem and was never intended to be long term. The problem has to be addressed at the source, affordable spay/neuter services. These services need to be open to all members of the public, regardless of demographics or monetary income as this is a community problem, feral and stray cats do not magically appear on their own.

SNKI oversaw the City program for four years while attempting to rally other animal welfare organizations behind the opening of a much needed HVLC spay/neuter clinic. Despite our best efforts we were not successful and believe it is now time for someone else to take the lead.

Photo credit: Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard

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Letter to the City of Kingston