RUNNING WILD: THE CATS OF CORNWALL

It’s #56 in the province in terms of human population, but it’s #1 when it comes to outdoor cats. Why? 

Cornwall has no publicly funded cat control, for starters. That’s been left up to dedicated cat rescuers like Mellissa Alepins and Mary Jane Proulx. Running Wild: The Cats of Cornwall follows them through the streets, alleyways and city council chambers as they tirelessly trap, neuter and rescue cats, and fight city hall to take action.  

But is this a losing battle?  Cats reproduce at an alarming rate. And do-gooders who feed colonies of strays may be adding to the problem. And it’s a big one. The impact stray cats have on the environment is staggering. They are now, incredibly, classified as an invasive species by Wildlife Ecologists like Dr. Elizabeth Gow (University of Guelph) and Dr. Bridget Stutchbury (York University). With billions of birds and other animals killed by cats around the world, our planet’s bio-diversity, as well as human health, is on the line. This is a human-caused problem that requires a human fix. 

But as their funds dwindle and the heartbreak takes its toll, how can Mellissa and Mary Jane prevail? Will Cornwall’s townspeople heed their warnings and take action?