Cat control called for

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The Record

By: Vito Ciccarelli

BRUNSWICK - An increasing cat population in Brunswick has prompted one resident to call on the Town Board to take action.
Sue McDonough, a former state trooper who now does volunteer work at the Hudson & Mohawk River Humane Society, told the board last week of a disturbing situation she encountered recently.
The animal activist came upon a construction dumpster where someone had left a litter of newborn kittens. She spent hours sifting to the bottom of the receptacle to remove the kittens, then bringing them to the shelter to be nursed back to health and put up for adoption.

"The town needs a more comprehensive animal control law, which covers more than dogs" said McDonough. "We need an alternative - someone to call about abandoned cats."
She also told of people dropping off cats at farm barns.

"People are misguided in thinking that cats are an effective means of rodent control in barns," McDonough said.

McDonough stressed the need to reduce the number of free-roaming, abandoned and feral cats through humane capture, with placement when appropriate by the Rensselaer County Health Department, Humane Society, and animal control officers.
According to The Pork Checkoff, a periodical which works in cooperation with the western Pennsylvania Pork Producers, cats living in barns are a primary source of a parasite called toxoplasma gondii. Cats shed T. gondii in their feces for up to two weeks following infection.

Animals (pigs and rodents) may eat feed contaminated with feces and ingest T. gondii eggs. These eggs can grow in the animal and develop into cysts in the muscle. If a human or another animal eats undercooked contaminated meat, that person can become infected with toxoplasmosis.
The publication implores farmers to keep cats out of barns.

Councilman Sam Salvi announced that the town will accept summer job applications until June 16. 'Our summer student employees do a great job throughout the town,' Salvi said. 'I'm proud of the way the program has grown and has been a great benefit to the town as a whole.'

Russell Oster was appointed Planning Board chairman. Oster, who served on the board for more than six years, will fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the previous chairman.
'Ron is a business man who has an extensive knowledge of planning laws, and what needs to be done to further advance the town in the future,' said Supervisor Phil Herrington.

The board also appointed Joseph Jabour to the Planning Board. Jabour recently resigned his Zoning Board seat to accept the new appointment.

The board will next meet on July 13, at 7 p.m.