By Jessie Weisner

APARC hosts meeting on potential trap neuter release program

Feb 13, 2019 | 10:12 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Over the past few weeks, controversies around the SPCA have dominated any discussion about animal welfare organizations.

However, on Wednesday night The Alberta Pound and Rescue Organization (APARC) aimed to take the dialogue in a more constructive direction.

“I think that the discussion was good on all aspects,” says Kaylyn Genio, general manager of APARC. “We started out with some TNR which I think was really hopeful, I think the public is looking forward to this sort of program, we got more support and we’re really hoping it’ll take off.”

APARC hosted a meeting about a potential trap neuter release program (TNR), which means they’d collect strays, neuter them and release them back into the wild to help bring down stray cat populations.

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About 27 people attended the meeting, including other animal welfare organizations and members of the public.

“There is a big problem in Medicine Hat,” says Tara Martice, professional dog trainer in Medicine Hat. “Not just in Medicine Hat but pretty much everywhere and the more education that’s out there regarding responsible pet ownership the better, and ensuring the humane treatment of animals that go through this program is important.”

However, there’s some obstacles in implementing the program.

APARC says they would need between $25,000 and $50,000 a year initially, about 20 initial volunteers and an amendment to a City bylaw.

Medicine Hat’s bylaw 3935 restricts releasing any animal back into the community.

“No person shall do anything or omit to do anything where such act or omission has or may have the effect of causing or permitting the running at large of an animal within the city,” reads the bylaw.

APARC is hoping to approach City Council about amending the bylaw after gathering a group together to form a TNR committee.

“We’re really hoping to get this committee going,” says Genio. “We’ve got enough people that signed up today that hopefully we can get a committee together and then we can approach our city with our thoughts and hopes for the program.”

Following TNR discussions, the floor opened to a moderated discussion on any animal welfare organizations in the community.

Despite APARC cutting off inter-shelter transfers with the SPCA last week, the controversy was barely mentioned, instead they aimed to clarify some misconceptions circulating about their operations.

“They seemed to come together quite well, everyone has some really good questions and I think a lot of the misinformation that might have been out there was cleared up tonight,” says Genio. “A lot of people didn’t know that we did adoptions in general and that feral cats are a problem in the city, that we do have a barn buddy adoption program to deal with.”

A variety of topics were brought up like APARC’s foster program, why they collect fees and their relationship with other organizations.

“The fact that different organizations came together to have a polite conversation regarding the future,” says Martice “It was very successful just from the feedback that came from different points of view just from bylaw, different organizations, non-profits and professional individuals.”

APARC also added it would be willing to continue to work with the SPCA if a framework was put in place to protect them, the SPCA and pet owners.

“We’re more than willing to work with SPCA again,” says Genio. “Once they’ve restructured a little bit and we’re open to that.”