I have wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. Since I was eight years old, I have spent time observing at my local veterinary office, Anville Cleona Veterinary Associates. Mornings normally begin with dairy cow herd checks and routine office surgeries, while the afternoons consist of small animal appointment. Just recently, I was in the office watching the morning surgeries. There were a couple spays, a mass removal, and a case that stood out the most: a feral cat neuter.
The cat was brought in by the veterinarian from her neighborhood. She had caught it in trap and planned to release it after neutering it. It was a large black male cat who had a distinct stench to him that I might never forget! The procedure was carried out quickly with minimal stress to the animal and everyone was wary even though the cat was under anesthesia.
It was interesting to see a surgery on a male feral cat. Different precautions had to be taken compared to a normal feline neuter to protect the doctors and veterinary technicians. It was kind of the veterinarian to give back to society by neutering the cat free of cost, but class material enlightened me to some of the potential downsides of this method.
In class during our "Feral Cat Control" lecture, we learned of the various methods of colony control as well as their benefits and downsides. The method performed for the male cat in the office is an example of Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR). We learned that the positives of this method include preventing cat overpopulation, providing better quality of life, and controlling rat and other pest problems in some areas. However, this method of control is resource intensive and the cat may have a difficult time defending itself after being released right after surgery. Furthermore, released cats will still kill wildlife in areas.
In conclusion, seeing a method of feral cat control that we learned about in class allowed me to first hand evaluate the negatives and positives of this method. I appreciate that the veterinarian gave back by performing the surgery for free. When I am a veterinarian someday, I hope to contribute in the same way to society!
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