Thursday, August 20, 2009

Reply from Marine Parade Town Council: Culling avoided unless cats are a nuisance


MY PAPER THURSDAY AUGUST 20, 2009
MY SAY

WE REFER to the letter, “Why cull stray cats that have been sterilised?” (my paper, Aug 14), by Miss Cheng Siew Luang.

Our town council adopts a pragmatic multi-pronged approach to the problem of strays in our estate.

A balanced approach is needed to take into account the good intentions of cat lovers as well as the genuine concerns of people who find stray cats a nuisance.

As a town council, we have a responsibility towards our residents to ensure that the environment is kept clean.

Some of the problems which residents encounter with regard to stray cats include food left behind by feeders.

This leads to pest problems and cat defecation in common areas, which dirty the environment.

We have also received complaints from residents who have a phobia of cats.

Sterilisation is a way to prevent the proliferation of strays.

The culling of sterilised strays would be avoided unless the cats create a nuisance or are found around eating places.

Public education remains an important part of our strategy for controlling the number of strays within the community.

We would like to apologise to Miss Cheng for not responding to her promptly. We have since contacted her to explain the situation and to work out an amicable arrangement.


Ms Png Chiew Hoon
General Manager
Marine Parade Town Council


Write to My Paper. Please include your full name, address and
a telephone contact number. E-mail your opinions to myp@sph.com.sg
We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and length.


Marine Parade Town Council's Website

To speak to
Ms Png Chiew Hoon

Call
Blk 50 Marine Terrace #01-265
Singapore 440050
Tel: 6241 6044
Toll free line: 1800-241 6487
Fax: 6444 0919

or

http://www.mptc.org.sg/4b_Feedback.htm
or email to
internet@mptc.org.sg