Animal Welfare Board discusses feral cats and avian flu

The Animal Welfare Board convened Wednesday evening at the Evanston Animal Shelter. The group focused primarily on two topics. First, members discussed an ordinance (15-O-25) seeking to reduce the amount of time the animal shelter holds stray feral cats so the cats could return more quickly to the wild.

Second, they discussed the need for additional information from the Evanston Health and Human Services Department about the dangers of avian influenza, in particular to any humans and pets coming into contact with sick or dead birds.

Amending Title 9, Chapter 4 of city code

Stray cats and dogs dropped off at the animal shelter are currently held for a minimum of one week unless reclaimed by their owners. Prior to reclaiming, owners must show proof of rabies inoculation and pay fees for impoundment. If the animal is unlicensed, the fee will also include the cost of a license. The license fee per cat or dog is $10 for a neutered animal and $15 for an unaltered pet.

The amendment proposes an increase of the impoundment fee from $10 to $25.

The Evanston Animal Shelter, 2310 Oakton St., tries to reunite lost animals with their owners. All strays are scanned for microchips. Animals without tags or chips and that don’t demonstrate socialization around humans are considered feral. In Evanston, this term applies to cats.

The proposed amendment would reduce the waiting period for feral cats from seven to four days. A veterinarian evaluates every feral cat that enters the shelter. Each cat receives a rabies vaccine and is spayed or neutered. Once healed, they are dropped off where they were found.

Feral cats but not dogs here

Vicky Pasenko, executive director of the animal shelter and a member of the Animal Welfare Board, explained in an email why feral cats are the focus.

“There are no feral dogs in Evanston. There are stray cats (cats who have been socialized with humans) who are outdoors but not feral. Feral cats were typically born outside and have had little to no contact with humans and are essentially wild animals. If they are brought inside when they are young kittens they can be socialized but once they pass eight or 10 weeks socialization is very difficult.

The goal of the ordinance is to return the feral cats to the wild as soon as they recover from sterilization.

“Stray dogs have an owner. About 60% of the time they have just escaped their yard and the owner comes to claim them immediately. Stray cats may also have an owner but are claimed less often — only about 20% of the time. Stray dogs and cats who are unclaimed have often been abandoned by their owners but are still not feral,” wrote Pasenko. 

The people who work and volunteer at the animal shelter believe that “feral cats suffer extreme distress due to contact with humans and being caged while they recover from neuter or spay procedures,” as stated in the proposed ordinance. Stressed feral cats behave aggressively and dangerously, behavior that puts veterinarian caretakers and shelter volunteers at risk.

Dangers of avian influenza

Pasenko told the board about a resident who came to the animal shelter with a sick goose. The shelter staff on duty refused to accept the goose because of the risk of avian influenza. The shelter does not treat sick wildlife. Avian influenza can infect mammals (including pets), though rarely humans.

Perry Kubala, the Evanston animal warden, sent the board an April 16 memorandum with some avian influenza protocols.

• Members of the public should not handle sick or deceased birds unless equipped with proper personal protective equipment (PPE). (Refer to the graphic below.)
• Pet owners should keep dogs on a leash during walks to prevent interactions with wild birds. Keep cats indoors to reduce the risk of exposure.
• If you can’t obtain PPE as described in the graphic, this link from the Illinois Department of Public Health provides an alternative. It describes supplies needed (disposable waterproof gloves, heavy plastic bags, safety goggles, N95 mask, secure trash can) and how to use them.
• A homeowner who finds five or more dead birds on their property within a 24-hour period should not dispose of the birds. Contact Nicky Stahl, the District Wildlife Biologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for Cook County, at 847-608-3122. Alternatively, call the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, at 866-487-3297.

More awareness needed

The board concluded more public awareness is needed about the dangers of avian influenza. The board is following up with Ike Ogbo, HHS director.

Committee members Anne Panek, Kristi Bachmann, Jenny Grist, Christopher Swanson and Vicky Pasenko attended; Janella Hardin provided administrative support from the city. The meeting adjourned after 30 minutes. One attendee stayed afterward to tour the new shelter.

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