Atikokan's 'dump cats' could find new home with help of humane society

A group of 'dump cats' that have called the Atikokan landfill home for a number of years, may soon find themselves in a better living environment.

Some people in the northwestern Ontario community want to trap, neuter and release the felines, or bring them to Thunder Bay to be adopted out by the local humane society.

"Out at the landfill site in Atikokan, there have been stray cats there for years and years," said Dennis Brown, the Mayor of Atikokan. "And, I guess it's bothering some local people about them not being looked after."

Brown said town council still has to decide if it's willing to make a donation to the Humane Society, to help cover some of the costs of vaccinations, as well as spaying and neutering the animals.

"They've been there for years and years, and this is the first time that they've had some local citizens expressing concerns for the cats, and wanting to do something," he said. "Finding them homes, possibly."

Brown said one of the workers at the landfill does feed some of the cats, but it's done on an ad hoc basis, when locals donate cat food. He said there are dilapidated buildings at the landfill that would provide some shelter for the cats.

"He's trying to help out the local citizens that want to provide food for them, or might possibly find another place for them to live."

There is no timeline as to when some of the cats could be moved away from the dump. The humane society and group of concerned citizens is still working out the details.