PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist

Lee County Animal Services

(239) 432-2090 ext. 241

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rising Stray Cat Population Becomes Lee County's Biggest Animal Control Issue

Fort Myers, Florida, 5/24/05-For many Floridians summer means vacations and relaxation. For animal shelter employees it means providing care for even more unwanted cats and litters of kittens. "Kitten season" runs from May to November in most parts of the country but longer periods of warm weather lengthen the breeding season in states like Florida.

The following five-year trends in Lee County's cat population have been monitored by county officials:

The number of cats entering Lee County Animal Services' shelter has risen 45% from 4,856 in 2000 to 7,060 in 2004. By comparison, dog intake has risen only 24%.

In addition to the stray population, cats surrendered to the shelter by their owners have risen 160% from 951 in 2000 to 2,464 in 2004.

The euthanasia of cats in Lee County has risen 40% (4,032 in 2000 compared to 5,667 in 2004) while the euthanasia of dogs has stayed about the same despite the population increase.

Less than 2% of stray cats are claimed by their owners.

These statistics mean cats have become Lee County's biggest animal control issue. While un-sterilized cats roam they breed and increase the population by the hundreds of thousands in Lee County. As a result, the county is considering an expansion of Animal Services' stray cat holding area to deal with the problem now and other long-term sheltering options to deal with future needs. An Animal Control Officer dedicated solely to cat enforcement is also under consideration.

Animal Services has implemented the following proactive initiatives:

Zero-tolerance for violations. Mandatory citations will be issued to owners whose cats are found running at large (off the owner's property) and those that are unlicensed. According to Lee County Ordinance 98-10 cats, like dogs, are prohibited from running at large and must wear a Lee County pet license.

Increase the number of pets claimed. Animal Services will offer Microchip IDs for just $10 during June. The Microchip ID is a small computer chip implanted under the pet's skin. It can be read by a scanner that most animal control agencies use as part of their regular equipment. The Microchip ID will identify the owner through information kept in a national database should the pet be found without a collar or other forms of ID such as the county license.

Adoption incentives. In an effort to increase cat adoptions as kitten season begins, Animal Services will reduce its cat adoption fee from $50 to $40 during the month of June.

For more information about adopting a shelter cat, Microchip Pet IDs, or licensing laws call (239) 432-2083 or visit Lee County Animal Services' website at www.LeeLostPets.com. Pictures and descriptions of animals for adoption are available online.

Lee County Animal Services provides animal control services throughout Lee County and operates an animal shelter to house stray and abandoned domestic animals. It also administers low-cost spay and neuter programs, educational initiatives, rabies and bite case control programs, and humane euthanasia when appropriate. It employs 37 and has an annual operating budget of $3.06 million.

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