The removal of shelters for feeding feral cats from a piece of land in Gander was not done to hurt anyone or by action of council, says Mayor Percy Farwell.

This, after a Facebook group called “Gander Feral Cat/Kitten Rescue” posted that their shelters had been removed from the location where they put them.

Mayor Farwell says the town did not know that the shelters had been removed, and that the town council was unaware of the shelters being there on town land in the first place.

He claims that a municipal officer did receive a complaint about the shelters being on town property, so they investigated.

Farwell says after approaching the local SPCA and finding no further information, they removed the shelters. However, they kept the feeding bowls in place, since it was clear that cats were returning to find food and water.

Farwell compares the situation to someone building a shed in the woods on town property. Two small wooden structures and three plastic containers were brought back to the town depot.

Farwell says there is an issue with feral cats in Gander, but the Trap Neuter Return program to address the proliferation of cats did not get approved last year.

He says council is open to working with groups like the SPCA to come up with potential solutions.