-Pet limits dropped from bylaw, vets to have say on euthanizations-
OSOYOOS TIMES-February 6, 2008-
By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times
Osoyoos town councillors gave first, second and third readings at their meeting on Feb. 4 to a cat control bylaw that will allow bylaw officers to catch, detain and, if necessary, arrange for the euthanization of feral cats found within town boundaries.
The bylaw councillors voted on during the meeting was the second draft of the cat control regulations. Council decided at a Jan. 28 meeting that the first draft had clauses that needed to be dropped. These clauses would have limited the number of cats Osoyoosites could own to two and given town bylaw officers the power to euthanize cats at their own discretion.
The new bylaw puts no limit on the number of cats residents can own and requires any euthanizations be performed by a certified veterinarian. It also provides a 48-hour holding period where citizens can claim a wandering pet that may have been apprehended.
The need for such a bylaw was first suggested by Coun. Dick Flintoft at a Jan. 21 council meeting. Flintoft said he had been receiving complaints from the community that a residence near Peanut Pond was overrun with about 20 feral cats, the apparent descendants of two house cats abandoned on the property.
I think that (the bylaw is) coming to where we want to see it, Flintoft said, adding he was disappointed the SPCA hadn't gotten more involved.
The Penticton SPCA has said it will take in any healthy, tame cats apprehended under the bylaw, but the organization cannot devote the time or manpower to capturing cats or dealing with feral ones.
I'd like to see this situation resolved before this problem of 20 becomes 100, Flintoft said. I don't think it's fair to the people and I don't think it's fair to the animals.
When you look at this bylaw and its ramifications, the second part is a much more humane situation we'll be talking about after we pass this bylaw, said Coun. Stu Wells.
Wells said council will be seeking to establish a group of volunteer animal-lovers who will work with the feral cats in hopes of rehabilitating them to the point where they can be given homes.
We'll do this first and then move into the second phase, he said. Cat-lovers should stay tuned.
Coun. Allan Carswell, who had voiced major qualms with the original draft bylaw, was supportive of the changes.
This bylaw is much improved from the first one we saw, Carswell said. This does deal with strays. You'll be fined if your cats are always wandering, which I think is fair.
The charge for getting a cat out of a town impound is $35. A $10 daily fee for care and maintenance during impounding also applies. The bylaw also dictates that cats older than two months must bear some sort of identification such as a collar.
Those who have a cat go missing may want to contact town hall as soon as possible.
The bylaw officer and the pound keeper are authorized at their sole discretion, to have a cat that is impounded under this bylaw destroyed, sold or otherwise disposed of unless that cat is reclaimed and all required fees prescribed in this bylaw are paid within 48 hours of the cat being impounded, the bylaw reads.
The bylaw will not take effect until it passes a fourth and final reading.
