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Date: 2/8/2018
ENFIELD CT – In 2016, Dawn Trainer Struck saw a need. Temporarily out of work, she used her time to address the stray and feral cat population in town and founded the Enfield Community Cat Project.
Fast forward to 2018, and Struck and her volunteers are managing feral cat colonies, trapping them and having them spayed or neutered, and with more than 20 foster families socializing feral kittens so they can find permanent homes.
Last year, the non-profit organization was able to help 227 cats in town. She has made an arrangement with Petsmart to sell socialized feral kittens through its store with the organization receiving part of the proceeds.
“We’re trying to educate people who have no understanding what feral cats are,” she said.
Struck, though, is concerned about statements made by New Britain Mayor Erin E. Stewart about stray and feral cats that might spread to other communities. Stewart has advocated for people who feed feral cats to be registered, according to a report last month in the New Britain City Journal and there would be a series of fines for infractions such as people allowing feral cats to stray onto other people’s properties.
Although these proposals are not law in New Britain, Struck said, “Fining won’t solve the problem.” She added, “They should be going after people who do not spay or neuter their cats or dump cats.”
She disputed Stewart’s assertion that feral cats are dirty and said, “feral cats are cleaner than indoor cats.”
She noted that in California and Rhode Island there are regulations requiring an identify tag on the collar or the installation of a microchip for outdoor cats, which build in a responsibility for the care of outdoor cats.
Property owners always approve the use of their property for a feral colony, Struck added.
Struck and her volunteers operate the organization on private donations and grants. Last year, the community raised $6,000 from an event at the Powder Hollow Brewery.
“We have amazing support,” she said.
Struck is always looking for additional volunteers to help with transportation of cats to Protectors of Animals in East Hartford, as well as to assist in the feeding of the feral colonies. To contact Struck, go to the organization’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ECCP2016.