Animal bylaw passes without cat licensing

[bigdoglover]

Strathroy Age Dispatch

Strathroy-Caradoc has a new animal control bylaw.
Council approved the bylaw last week, despite hearing from one local resident who believes cats should be subject to the same licensing practices as dogs.
Barry Wolfe made a presentation to council asking that the bylaw be changed to include cat licensing. “The bylaw is prejudicial and selective as it is now. Adding cats to all the regulations would make it inclusive,” he told council.
He noted the animals that pass through the animal shelter used by the municipality are almost evenly split between dogs and cats, but that only dog owners pay license fees to help offset costs. Since part of the costs of local animal control come from general municipal revenues, he said dog owners are actually hit twice for costs, once through license fees and again through their property taxes.
The licensing of cats, he told council, could result in reduced pound costs, higher revenue, and a reduction in potential conflicts between cat owners and their neighbours.
Council members had little comment on the proposal.
Mayor Mel Veale said the issue had been discussed by council at a workshop meeting earlier in the year, and that it needs further consideration, possibly by the next council.
“There is some urgency to pass this bylaw the way it is,” he said, referring to a specific cattle at large situation in south Caradoc that the new bylaw will allow the municipality to address.
Licensing cats would be a big change to what is now in effect, he said. “It will take a year to put something like this in place.”
Coun. Marie Baker noted there are two more years left on the existing contract between the municipality and its animal control officer, and the licensing of cats would result in some significant changes in it. But she agreed the idea deserves further consideration.
The bylaw includes a new fee schedule for dogs. The fee for “natural” dogs is: $30 for the first dog and $35 for the second and third. The fee for spayed or neutered dogs is: $20 for the first dog and $25 for the second and third.
Anyone owning more than three dogs requires a kennel license.
It adheres to provincial legislation regarding potentially dangerous dogs, and includes a wide array of prohibited exotic animals.

[rmci]

I see nothing wrong with requiring licenses for cats, and would get one for my kitty if mandatory.

Most shelters have more cats than dogs and requiring a license fee would definitely offset their expenses.

Unfortunately, it seems harder to keep collars on cats than dogs. My cat occasionally takes his off. He can undo buckles, snaps, whatever. As for outdoor kitties, they'd need to be the "quick release" type so they don't hang themselves in trees and such. I could see a lot of cats losing their tags this way.