Bylaw sought to tackle feral cat epidemic
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
Rangiora cat rescue volunteers are calling for a cat bylaw to combat the region’s feral cat epidemic.
Karen Wilkes, founder of cat rescue organisation Kitty Kingdom Canterbury, and Tina Hartley are calling for a bylaw requiring owners to get their cat desexed and microchipped.
The pair recently met with Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon and cited similar bylaws already adopted by the Selwyn District Council and the Wellington City Council.
The issue came to a head recently when a cat was found injured after being caught in a gin trap — normally used for catching possums — in central Rangiora.
"We got the call about this cat which people had been feeding over the last few years," Wilkes said.
"If he had been microchipped he probably wouldn’t have been walking the streets as a stray for so long."
But this was just the tip of the iceberg, as there were numerous instances of cats being dumped near rivers and in rural areas.
"People are just dumping cats and leaving them," Hartley said.
"And if people dump them at the Ashley River they will harm the birdlife because they need food.
"What Karen is trying to do is trap them, and then get them desexed, and rehomed, so we can stop this population explosion."
Wilkes said one female cat could have four or five litters of kittens in a year, with up to five kittens in a litter, if she was not desexed.
Over eight years, more than 2 million descendants could be bred from one female cat, she said.
"People are already threatening to poison or harm cats and some are already doing it, so something needs to be done."
Gordon said he was looking into the Selwyn bylaw and had written to the appropriate government minister.
He said it would be difficult to enforce a bylaw.
"I think in order for a bylaw like that to be successful it probably needs to be adopted by all councils in the region.
"This is to stop litters being born in Christchurch, where there is no bylaw, and being driven into rural areas to be dumped."
Kittens could be desexed at 10 weeks or when they reached one kilogram in weight.
They could be microchipped at the same time.
Wilkes called for a national database of microchipped cats to be developed.
"I’m always scanning rescued cats and hoping, ‘please let it be chipped’."
She was applying for grants to help people to get their pets desexed.
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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