May 16, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Rising Stray Cat Population Is County's Largest Animal Control Issue Lee County Animal Services Continues Zero–Tolerance Policy and Offers Adoption Discount 

Fort Myers, Florida, 5/16/06-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. 

Last June Animal Services took in a record 1,033 cats.  In hopes of increasing the number of adoptions, Animal Services will proclaim June Adopt A Shelter Cat Month by reducing the cat adoption fee from $50 to $20 for the entire month.  All adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations appropriate for the cat's age, flea treatment, worming, test for feline aids and leukemia, and a nationally registered Microchip Pet ID.  This is an average value of $400 (not including the pet).   

Animal Services realizes, however, that this problem cannot be eliminated through adoptions alone.  The number of homeless cats far exceeds the number of available homes.  Therefore, the agency continues to encourage pet owners to sterilize their pets as the only effective solution to the problem. 

To further address the problem, Animal Services will continue its zero-tolerance policy for violations.  Mandatory citations are 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. 

The following six-year trend in Lee County's cat population has been monitored by county officials:

• The number of cats entering Lee County Animal Services' shelter has risen 62% from 4,856 in 2000 to 7,825 in 2005.  By comparison, dog intake has risen 38%.
• In addition to the stray population, cats surrendered to the shelter by their owners have risen 235% from 951 in 2000 to 3,194 in 2005. 
• The euthanasia of cats in Lee County also has risen 62% (4,032 in 2000 compared to 6,583 in 2005) while the euthanasia of dogs has stayed about the same despite the population increase.
• Only 1% of stray cats (81 of 7,825) entering the shelter in 2005 were claimed by their owners.  

These statistics mean cats are Lee County's largest animal control issue.  While un-sterilized cats roam they breed and increase the population by the hundreds of thousands here in Lee County.  In 2005 Animal Services had to expand the shelter's stray cat holding area just to have space to hold stray cats for the required five-day period before placing them for adoption or euthanizing unadoptable cats. 

For more information about adopting a shelter cat, spaying and neutering, 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 $4.1million.

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