Caregivers of free-roaming cats and low-income families with dogs and cats may be eligible to receive assistance through the Town’s 2018 Spay and Neuter Voucher Program.
The program accepts applications for spay and neuter vouchers from eligible residents who are at least 18 years of age and have lived in the Town of Essex for at least one year. Vouchers are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and are available at Essex Town Hall (33 Talbot Street South, Essex Centre) and the Harrow and Colchester South Community Centre (243 McAfee Street, Harrow Centre).
Caregivers of free-roaming cats may apply for up to a maximum of three vouchers. Low-income residents may apply for one owned dog and one owned cat. Vouchers are valued at $75 each (inclusive of Harmonized Sales Tax) and can be used at participating veterinary clinics in Windsor and Essex County.
To help slow the growth of colonies of free-roaming cats in the municipality, Council approved a Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program in 2015 and extended this program for 2018.
Donna Hunter, Chief Administrative Officer, says that the program has been very successful over the past four years.
“The intent of the program is to reduce the feral cat population in our communities, along with the nuisance behaviour associated with feral cats, such as yowling, fighting, and spraying. Since the two programs began we have been successful in getting nearly 1,000 feral cats spayed or neutered,” says Hunter.
The TNR program is managed by the Town’s Animal Control Officers. Residents wishing to report the presence of free-roaming cats can contact the Town’s Animal Control Officers at 519-816-7627.
To request a spay-neuter voucher application, residents may contact Town Hall at 519-776-7336. For Harrow, please call 519-776-7336 ext. 1124 to make an appointment. More information is available online at www.essex.ca/pets
