DALTON - An employee of a local veterinary hospital advised borough residents on Thursday to trap the colonies of feral cats roaming borough neighborhoods so officials can spay or neuter them.
Addressing Dalton council and the residents in attendance, Lisa Dixon, an employee at Bunker Hill Veterinary Hospital, Clinton Twp., Wyoming County, said the borough's growing feral cat problem - dozens throughout the borough, one resident estimated - will get "dramatically worse" if people don't take action.
"It can go from 100 (feral cats) to 500 to 1,000 in a matter of months," she said after the meeting.
Ms. Dixon suggested people trap the feral cats, and then transport them to the hospital in Factoryville.
There, it costs $50 to spay a female cat, and $40 to neuter a male cat, Ms. Dixon said. But the Gathering Place Animal Rescue in Clarks Summit offered to cover the costs "for anyone who believes they need help with finances," she said.
Though borough council didn't take any action, members agreed to disseminate posters or informational handouts from the hospital that inform people how they can trap a cat and where they can bring it.
Councilman Mark Sujkowski said many communities face feral cat problems and argued Ms. Dixon's suggestion is "one of the few solutions."
Council President William Salva agreed with Mr. Sujkowski, saying there is no "clear cut answer" but this approach is probably "the most humane" option.
Most residents voiced support for the solution, agreeing that something needs to be done to curtail the growing problem.
But resident Kathy Dooley, who agreed with the premise, said she is concerned for the owners "whose cats are trapped without their knowledge."
To avoid that, Ms. Dixon said people should alert their neighbors before they trap.
"Tell them: if you have an outdoor cat, bring them in for the night," she said.
To contact the Gathering Place Animal Rescue, visit www.gpanimalrescue.com.
Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter