SOUTHWICK – Southwick Selectmen gave the go-ahead this week to Animal Control Officer Tracy Root to begin removing feral cat colonies in town.
The ongoing problem has escalated and Root estimates there could be 50 feral cats, concentrated in the Lakeview and Loomis neighborhoods.
“There are feral cats all over town and they are not socialized, they are not anybody’s pet,” said Root. “I talked to the residents and they are fed up – and I don’t blame them.”
Root looked into a trap-spay-and-release program. However, she said the cost is $35 per cat and the animal must be released to the area it was originally trapped. Then, she said, residents must agree to feed the cats.
“People do not want these cats around,” she said.” Spring is coming and the kittens from last year that were not trapped will be having kittens.”
Besides being a nuisance, Root said the feral cats are a health concern.
“We have already had one case of rabies in town,” she said. “It’s a danger to those neighborhoods.”
Board Chairman Fred Arnold asked what the cost would be to trap the cats and bring them to the Dakin Animal Shelter.
Root said Dakin has not given her a cost. However, Agawam had a similar program with Dakin at no charge.
Arnold said he gave his permission as long as people’s pets were not harmed.
“That is my biggest concern,” he sad.
“Mine too,” said Root, adding that if anyone was willing to cover costs for the trap-spay-and-release program she would be willing to try that. No one she spoke to was able to pay for the costs associated with that option.
Root said the cats would most likely be put down at Dakin.
“They can carry distemper and they can carry rabies,” she said.
Root promised to notify residents in neighborhoods where she plans to set traps at least a week in advance.
“I’ll use Channel 15, send letters to each house and post in the neighborhood,” she said. “I’ll ask everyone to keep their cats indoors while I’m trapping and make sure they have collars.”
Root added that if a cat allows her to handle it, she would know a pet has accidentally been trapped and she will hold the animal for pick-up from the owner.
“Also, if the residents can keep an eye on the traps, and they can see if someone’s cat is trapped, that would help,” said Root.
