Infostream (IS): Before we get started, we always
love to learn what motivates people to dedicate their careers to animal
welfare. What inspires each of you to be crusaders for cats?
Judith Aubin (JA):
Tanya Firmage (TF): My initial
training was in the animal health industry. While I enjoyed it, 23 years ago I also
had an experience with a local humane society while in college. It ignited my
passion for animal welfare. I really felt that I could have an impact in
changing the future… and I have never looked back! When I began this journey, I remember thinking that if I could
achieved what I was setting out to do, then one day there would no longer be
animals in shelters and we would have done our jobs. Seeing the shelter intake
statistics decrease over the past couple of years – in particular with cats –
has made me feel that I am achieving my goal. I have had many pets over the
years but currently have only one dog – a 13-year-old Yorkshire terrorist!
IS: Some of our readers may not be familiar your
initiatives to reduce cat admissions in OSPCA shelters. Please give us a brief
overview of your program and its success.
JA:
TF: We spay and neuter animals from
OSPCA shelters and other rescue organizations and shelters, as well as publicly
owned pets and feral cats from TNR programs. Since the program began, we have
collectively performed over 50,000 surgeries. At any one time we will have
close to 6,000 animals on our waiting list. Clients come from the local
communities, as well as driving long distances to access these services. As a
result of this, we started seeing a province-wide reduction in cat admissions
in our shelters in early 2012, with a much more significant reduction at shelters
closest to our clinics.
IS: I understand that there are 120 similar clinics
in North America. How would you suggest that other organizations get started?
JA: The Humane Alliance (www.humanealliance.org) model has recommendations
to ensure success. They factor in human population density and other
considerations. Of course, anyone interested in starting a spay/neuter clinic
is welcome to contact me. My position of Spay Neuter Regional Manager of OSPCA
was recently created, as the volume of information requests and program
management became a full-time job.
IS: You were part of the inaugural Innovation
Showcase program, which launched in 2013/2014, and you presented at the 2013
Regional and Annual Summits for Urban Animal Strategies. Tell us a little about
your respective experiences on this journey.
TF: I feel such pride in seeing these
numbers go down as drastically as they have and being able to share our
excitement and success with others in the industry was amazing. We always
understood that spaying and neutering was part of the solution to pet
overpopulation… this is proof that it makes a big difference.
JA: I didn’t know what to expect at
the Regional Conference but to be included in a group that is so innovative was a
real privilege and honour. I am flattered that people enjoyed our presentation and
that it is being offered again, so it can be extended to more communities and
so the momentum can continue across Canada.
IS: During your
Innovation Showcase presentation, you declared that there might be an end in sight
for the cat overpopulation crisis. Some might say that’s a pretty lofty (and
unattainable) goal. Do you ever feel overwhelmed?
TF: A decade ago, yes, I absolutely
felt overwhelmed. If I had heard that statement then I would have said ‘that’s
really dreaming’. Today, I truly believe it and feel that this is the best time
possible to be involved in animal welfare… and our program is just one of the
many reasons for this. It is really comforting to see the number of communities
that are reaching out for more information. It is a very different – but
positive – position for municipalities and the industry to take.
IS: How important is
community collaboration in this process?
TF: It is vitally important. I say
this because the pet overpopulation problem is not an OSPCA problem. It is a societal
problem. For community animal management strategies like this to be successful,
collaboration is key.
JA: For our program we have
collaborated with a large number of municipalities, veterinarians, feral cat
rescues, PetSmart Charities, organizations like PetLynx, and various attendees
at the Urban Animal Summits, to name a few.
IS: What can we
expect from your 2014 Regional Summit Innovation Keynote presentations?
JA: We will definitely have some more exciting information and updated statistics to share, to show
the path that we are on to reduce the cat intake numbers.
TF: In addition to the stats and
facts, I hope to have a couple of
different things to present from the OSPCA, such as our new “iAdopt” program.
It is proving to be a fun way to get adoptees together and increase the number
of adoptions across the province.
IS: For
our readers who want to learn more, how may they contact you?
Visit the website: www.fixyourpets.ca
Tanya Firmage: tfirmage@ospca.on.ca 905-898-7122 ext. 336
Judith Aubin: jaubin@ospca.on.ca 705-627-4838
IS: Any
final thoughts or comments?
JA: I am
really excited to present the new numbers and explain where this is going, as
well as to hear other innovative ideas. It makes me want to get involved in all
of them, even though I have to stay focused on my job!
TF: I am
looking forward to getting others on board to see how they can replicate our
program and work towards the same goal of reducing cat admissions and,
ultimately, ending the cat crisis in Canada.
