SAVE THE FREE-LIVING CATS ON UNSW CAMPUS
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES MANAGEMENT HAS DECREED THAT ALL FREE-LIVING CATS WILL BE REMOVED FROM CAMPUS AND DESTROYED! The trapping program will start this week (4th February 2008)
FOR AN UPDATE (22 Feb 08), SEE OUR WEBSITE: www.campuscats.org.au
WHY HAS THIS DECISION BEEN MADE? A severe flea infestation over Christmas 2007 in a university building apparently arose from the bodies of dead cats found in the basement. Several university staff required medical treatment for allergic reactions. Although this is regarded as a serious OH&S issue by university management, we consider that the university's response to this matter is excessive, poorly considered and indiscriminate. The trapping and removal program will involve considerable expense for the university, and will be ineffective both in the short and long term in managing free-living cats on campus.
We, the undersigned, strongly protest the decision by the management of the University of New South Wales to trap and remove all free-living cats from the Kensington campus. We recognise that a serious Occupational Health and Safety issue has arisen relating to a recent flea infestation in one building on campus, which has had significant health outcomes for some university staff. However, we consider that the university's response to this matter is excessive, poorly considered and indiscriminate. The trapping and removal program will involve considerable expense for the university, and will be ineffective both in the short and long term in managing free-living cats on campus.
We request that the university reconsider this decision, and engage in discussions in good faith with members of the Campus Cat Coalition and other interested staff and students to negotiate a more sensible, realistic and humane response to the perceived problem of free-living cats on the university campus. These discussions should also consider approaches to the management of free-living campus cats that will minimise OH&S risks to university staff, students and visitors in the future.
