A Cat Bylaw For Lethbridge?

While this issue is currently on the table at City Council, in other cities that have attempted a cat bylaw it has turned out to be a waste of money. Why?

• It is not enforceable; it is voluntary and enforcement personnel are at capacity.
• Those who let their cats roam or reproduce are not likely to license their cats.
• It does not address pet overpopulation and owner responsibility, the heart of the issue.
• Compliance will be low, as seen in other cities that have implemented a cat bylaw.
• Complaints will increase, resulting in more culling and killing.
• It is nearly impossible to identify which cats have been licensed.
• Impound redemption fees may be prohibitive, resulting in increased killing.

Rather, the issue of roaming cats and their behaviour is a direct result of human irresponsibility:

1. Failure to spay/neuter leads to both feral and owned cats reproducing, which adds to their burgeoning numbers.
2. Failure to keep owned cats indoors leads to defecation in gardens, damage to vehicles, and noises associated with feline copulation.
3. Failure to ensure cats are identifiable (microchip, collar, or tattoo) leads to impoundment and euthanasia in the event that no owner comes forward.

Thus, requesting that cat owners voluntarily come forward to pay a yearly tax on their cat(s) will not directly solve these problems.

Rather than putting further funds towards a bylaw that is doomed to fail, NOKA urges Lethbridge City Council and Administration to continue in their boldly progressive actions that includes subsidized spay/neuter clinics. NOKA is confident that this is the beginning of addressing the ‘cat problem’ and the initiative to which funds should be directed.

Furthermore, NOKA recommends a strong public education campaign on responsible pet ownership to further address the issue.

To find out NOKA's position on the cat bylaw, click here (PDF)

Older News: Animal Cruelty Petition

• Please find attached the Petition to The Minister of Justice - Animal Cruelty. Please print it, sign it and have others do so, with original signatures. You may also email or fax it to other interested people and all Petition sheets must be mailed directly by you to:
  Mark Holland, M.P., Ajax-Pickering
  Room 474, West Block
  House of Commons
  Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
• Bill C373 and other important information about the bill can be viewed at MP Mark Holland's web site designed for this bill: www.fortheanimals.ca
• Also, please write and telephone your MPs in addition to signing the Petition. Emailing your MP is fine too but writing and telephone calls are more effective. Petitions, phone calls and letters will continue to be accepted after February 9, 2007.
• Write or telephone the Minister of Justice, Rob Nicholson, to support Bill C373.
• All Petition sheets must be mailed to Mr. Mark Holland by February 9, 2007 (they will be accepted after this date, as well). Any envelopes mailed to his office or the House of Commons can be mailed for free through the Post Office.