Cathy Dobson/For The Independent

Volunteers with Caregivers of Petrolia Ferals are being deployed this week to distribute nearly three tonnes of donated pet food across the region.

For Petrolia’s Julie Medeiros, the largest donation of food in the group’s history is a godsend and she’s happy to share it. It’s enough to feed a huge population of feral cats daily until November. That includes the 340 feral cats in Sarnia Lambton cared for by Caregivers of Petrolia Ferals where Medeiros is the volunteer team co-ordinator.

“I feel just pure gratitude because we worry every day about how we’re going to feed them. This takes such a weight off my shoulders,” she said.

Earlier this month, a commercial pet food manufacturer, which prefers to remain anonymous, offered up a massive amount of canned cat food that was approaching its expiry date. The offer was made to a representative of a group called the Aboriginal Community & Animal Advocacy Connection that assists feral cat colonies on First Nations lands.

“Alison Bressette is the co-ordinator and works tirelessly to help the feline population,” said Medeiros.  Bressette secured the donation but didn’t have any way of transporting the food or warehousing it.

That’s when Caregivers of Petrolia Ferals got involved and put a plea out on social media for help. Within hours, Gary and Tammy Vandenheuvel of Preferred Towing in Sarnia offered to transport the skids of cat food from Cambridge to Corunna where Amanda Anderson of VIP Rail Service responded with donated warehouse space.

“We’ve never received this much volume and we had no idea where to begin,” said Medeiros. “So many suffering animals will have access to food now and we are very grateful. It helps me sleep at night.”
The number of cats living feral and the number of unspayed and unneutered cats producing unwanted kittens is a big problem in Ontario, she said.

Her organization began nearly 30 years ago when a good Samaritan started feeding a large group of feral cats in downtown Petrolia. That turned into a “full-blown” rescue operation that traps, neuters and releases cats, takes them to the vet when they are sick, cares for orphaned kittens and finds foster and adoptive families. The philosophy is to drastically reduce the number of ferals by spaying or neutering them. And it works, said Medeiros.

The Petrolia downtown colony once about 100 cats is now down to 20. 

“Not only are we down to about 20 downtown, this is the second summer without kittens being born there,” Medeiros explained.

Lorne Henderson Conservation Area is also a haven for ferals and once had hundreds of cats. But the efforts of the 46 volunteers with Caregivers of Petrolia Ferals have reduced that population to about 25.

Every day of the year including Christmas, volunteers spread out across Sarnia-Lambton to feed 11 feral colonies in Petrolia, Oil Springs, Port Lambton, Bright’s Grove, Reece’s Corners and several in Sarnia. 

“We feed them daily, provide T N R (Trap, Neuter and Release) so we’re not just letting them reproduce. If they are suffering, we’ll get them to a vet,” said Medeiros.  “So food is one thing, but caring for them is just as important.”

This recent food donation will last for about four months but there remain many other needs, she said.  Her phone doesn’t stop ringing. On the day of our interview, 36 calls had already come in by lunch from people with kittens and strays. 

Medeiros said the organizations helping feral cats in Southwestern Ontario regularly assist one another and this large food donation will be shared with several First Nations, food banks, and other rescue groups. “I’m optimistic this donor could be accessed more if we manage it well,” she said.
For more information or to donate, contact petroliaferals@gmail.com.