Delta, BC, is located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and encompasses both residential and agricultural land. The Delta Community Animal Shelter, a municipal animal shelter responsible for animal control, has been performing varying degrees of TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Release) for feral colony cats and barn cats for over 10 years. 

The shelter has struggled to gain control of one feral cat colony centralized around a farm property. This colony is plagued with multiple medical ailments and genetic issues making TNR efforts complicated. Generations of feral cats have been born on this property causing a population explosion, only worsening the disease and causing continuous suffering and welfare concerns. 

In 2021 the shelter was contacted by concerned residents on adjacent properties due to the overflow of cats expanding out from the problem barn. Since that time, in her role as a Registered Veterinary Technician at the shelter, the speaker has made it a personal goal to systematically TNR the cats on this property and attempt to gain control of the overpopulation issue and disease spread through the cooperation with the residents of the farms. 

This session will include a case study of this particular problem colony. It will explore Delta Community Animal Shelter’s medical management of these feral cats and their unique fear-free style handling methods to make the cats’ time in captivity less stressful and more manageable for shelter staff and veterinarians alike. 

Educational Topic 
Shelter Medicine & Animal Care: caring for the smallest and the sickest