Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 30/99) - The population of stray cats in Yellowknife is reaching crisis level, according to the Great Slave Animal Hospital.

The kennels at the veterinary facility are constantly over-capacitated and animal hospital workers think it is time the city does something to alleviate some of the burden they believe, has reached crisis proportions.

"Right now, we have about 20 kittens and 10 adult cats that are either strays or unwanted and we don't have the cages to deal with them," said Barb Jonkisz at the Great Slave Animal Hospital.

"This is the only city around with no cat bylaw. There's one for dogs but they won't do anything about the cats. Apparently, there is a real epidemic all around Northlands (trailer park)."

One woman, who wishes to remain unidentified, has already trapped three unwelcome feline visitors to her Northlands home and brought them to the animal hospital, says that they have become a constant nuisance.

"We have cats that come on to our deck and pee and poop in our flower bed," the local resident said. "We spend money fixing our yard and I water our plants faithfully.

"These cats come in every single night and dig it up. It's getting ridiculous and I don't think it's fair."

Dr. Tom Pisz at the Great Slave Animal Hospital acknowledges that the stray cat problem in Yellowknife has grown exponentially over the last few years, and with no help from the SPCA or the city bylaw, it's likely to rise.

"Even five years ago there were not a lot of cats but now it's an epidemic," Pisz said. "It's time for the city to do something, because as a private business we can't afford to deal with them.

"The problem is worse than the dog problem right now. People are scared to have their dogs caught by the bylaw, so they keep them under control. It's worse with cats because there is no bylaw or any other body that deals with this problem except us."

According to Yellowknife city clerk Tim Mercer, residents shouldn't hold their breath waiting for any changes to the current bylaw regarding pets.

"We've had no formal request yet for a cat bylaw," Mercer said. "We get a few calls complaining about cats, but not many. As of yet, the city has no plans for restricting homeowners with their cats."

For now, workers at Great Slave Animal Hospital are bearing the brunt of the cat epidemic.

"It's getting so bad right now that people are just leaving cats at our doorstep," Jonkisz said. "People are calling and threatening to poison them, drown them or leave them on the highway."

The hospital recommends that all cats should be spayed or neutered to help control local feline populations.