6th Annual SCRAPS Scaredy Cat Fundraiser Delighted Families
The biggest problem that threatens cats in Canada is homelessness. According to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) Cats in Canada Report, incidentally the only documented resource we have in Canada for information and statistics on cats. CFHS has asserted that:
*“Cats are a domesticated species that need human care to survive and stay healthy — especially during cold Canadian winters. But every year, the population of homeless cats grows, and more and more cats flow into already crowded animal shelters. It is estimated that less than half of cats admitted to shelters are adopted. The majority are euthanized. Many never make it to a shelter, and die painful deaths outside” Promoting the mission of the CFHS while also affecting instrumental animal welfare advancements in our local community, SCRAPS hosted their sixth annual “Scaredy Cat Halloween” Fundraiser at Family Pizza.
SCRAPS stands for the Band City ‘Stray Cat Rescue and Protection Society.’ It began in 2011 with a group of several people and key organizer Glady Bell, who has since retired. Anne Mar- ciszyn, volunteer and Board Member for SCRAPS, shared the organization’s fundraising goals.
Marciszyn said this particular event is geared toward families, giving everyone the opportunity to get dressed up and come together over pizza in support of community cats. The group also tries to reach a variety of people through different events throughout the year, including the High Tea scheduled for December 2nd, a Nine Lives Boutique to be announced to run in December, the recent Rib Night held at the Crushed Can, a Valentine’s Day event, as well as Sidewalk Days education and promotion about the importance of spaying and neutering of animals.
In 2012, the CFHS did a study on the status of cats across the country, revealing that there were 600,000 cats in shelters, most of whom will never find a home. “Too many cats, not enough homes,” according to Marciszyn, means that “it’s an upstream approach: we need to start ahead of the problem and find out what it is we need to stop. So, we need to stop reproduction and give the animals a better life.” Giving the animals a better life has been possible, thanks to fundraisers such as this, in addition to the loving generosity of so many members of our community. People such as the Penna family, who own Penna’s Welding, currently foster two kittens, in addition to providing fundraiser sponsorship and being huge supporters of SCRAPS. Other sponsors include Moose Jaw Pizza Hut, Grand Valley Press, Pet Valu, Aspen Dental, Yara Centre, Kinsmen Sportsplex, Main Street Dental Clinic, Halloween Alley, Fastenal Moose Jaw, Moose Jaw Express, and other generous people and organizations. The City doesn’t provide money for SCRAPS so they depend upon people like the Pennas and these other community sponsors for year-round assistance. The assistance was especially vital this year as SCRAPS had a record year for cat intakes, already trapping and neutering 150 cats so far.
Marciszyn explained, “We go around to areas that people tell us about; there are stray cats in different locations. SCRAPS help the feral cats, humanely catches them, vaccinates them, spays and neuters, helps any sick or wounded cats, and then safely reintroduces them into the community.” One cat can have as many as four litters during a year; after a kitten is four months old, it is capable of reproducing, SCRAPS tattoos their cats to indicate they have helped them. Following that, any released cats will be supported by SCRAPS feeding stations and shelters, shelters which have been strategically placed in areas close to where the cats have been released. There are about 18 foster homes for kittens and approximately 40 kittens in foster homes right now. Usually younger kittens can be domesticated after they get picked up, so SCRAPS also works hard to provide homes for any cats capable of being domestically rehomed.
If anyone is interested in becoming involved, volunteering, fostering or donating to SCRAPS, they can find SCRAPS on Facebook, or call 306.692.7513 and 306.693.0718 for more information. *https://www.cfhs.ca/cats_in_canada_ report