animals has been sitting on a shelf for three years.

Yesterday, veterinarian Andrew Madeiros, the former chairman of the "Animal Control Committee'' told the The Royal Gazette the group was formed by the Environment Ministry in 1995.

Representatives from various commercial and private animal groups held bi-weekly meetings for a year before submitting their recommendations.

But after several years and changes in the Ministry, Dr. Madeiros said he still has no idea what happened to the findings.

"It seems to be in limbo at this point,'' he said. "But there was a lot of publicity before it came out.'' Dr. Madeiros said he wrote letters to various Government officials after submitting the report to "re-acquaint'' them with the project.

However, he said discussions held earlier this year to tackle problems surrounding the growing feral cat population seemed to be "reinventing the wheel''.

The committee addressed the very same issues and provided a variety of solutions -- none of which have been implemented -- three years ago, he explained.

Some of the suggestions were trapping and "euthanising'', or the mandatory spading and neutering of captured cats.

But the 1995 study was not limited to feral cats.

Dr. Madeiros said the committee's advisors and members included dairy farmers, cat, dog and bird fanciers, equestrians, and the Government vet.

And having "the most informed people from each group'' ensured the committee was able to create remedies for any problems posed by any feral animal, Dr.

Madeiros said.