MDC needs to enforce desexing and chipping

Continued from page 1. Marlborough Four Paws runs entirely by volunteers and operates with the support of donations from the community and was established in 2017 with the goal of providing welfare to animals in need.

MFP aims to reduce animal suffering, protect local bird life and mitigate the spread of animal disease by preventing the birth of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

Co-founder Michelle says Marlborough Four Paws have spent 10's of thousands on ‘de-sexing and re-homing cats’ while de-sexing over 1000 cats and 300 dogs and puppies since they started.

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Michelle says the only short-term solution is for the Marlborough District Council to enforce de-sexing and chipping for all cats and kittens.

“The situation is getting worse by the year even with us constantly trapping strays let down by their owners,” says Michelle.

Vet Marlborough and Springlands

Veterinary Centre have provided ongoing support and Michelle says they are thankful for that. However, they still have staff to pay, with MFP vet bills currently in the five figures per month.

“It’s very hard for us to keep going when we are not receiving any support from MDC. We spend a large amount of time and money trapping, de-sexing and homing where possible, well over 60% of these strays are at parks, the recycling center, CBD, and empty buildings.”

Michelle says Marlborough Four Paws have been told by council that there isn’t a cat problem in Marlborough. Whilst there are MDC employees and councilors that support us and try to gain traction for our cause, unfortunately, the official stance is that 'there is no stray cat problem in Marlborough.

“With a recent complaint we were aware that the council went to the property to see how many cats could be seen at 2.30 in the afternoon. You will never see the true amount of cats at this time this needs to be when the sun goes down. We have offered for them to come out with the MFP team while trapping but they were not interested,” she says.

Furthermore, if Marlborough Four Paws agreed to destroy the cats and not return them to a monitored feeding area they would receive (financial) backing from the MDC.

“The strays we cannot home are returned to an area which is daily monitored, all cats have food and fresh water. They also keep rodents under control, none of these stray cats are returned to the bush or in areas where there are native birds.

“If we do not continue this vital work there will be thousands of strays by 2024, these strays will be forced out of town and into the areas where our native birds live. One female cat can have two to three litters a year, with the average litter being four. Say half of those kittens are female and start breeding at six months old all having two to three litters a year;

“You don’t have to think long and hard to work out there is a massive issue here that the council is not addressing.

This image of the Taylor River was taken this week. Raupō Café and restaurant manager Sonu Karwal recently complained about flooding of the Taylor River. The flooding over the riverside boardwalk was affecting Karwal’s business because recreational users that used the path were some of his regular customers.

Marlborough District Council rivers and drainage engineering manager Andy White last week said river works were not permitted in the Taylor and Opaōa rivers from February 1 to April 30 to avoid fish spawning season, and protect juvenile inanga, or whitebait.