HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 05-09 Time to tie-up tabby THE REVIEW Cat ordinance implemented /7(.4(79y /919
Time to tie - uptabby
By MELANIE WAAGE "We feel it's unfair for cats," Bonnie animal as a pet,"Deschene said."I'm not
Qualley. 2089 Beam Ave., Maplewood, here to cause problems,but to help people
After hearing testimony for and against said."If you leave a cat alone it won't bite understand. The last few years councils
the Maplewood proposed cat ordinance, you.Why can't neighbors just discuss the are beginning to feel cat ordinances are
the city council voted four to one in favor. problem between themselves, without necessary to insure cats are taken care
Many residents appeared at the May 3 punishing all the cats in town?" of."
council meeting, to voice their support Another resident said it was against a Councilman Donald Wiegert said that if
and opposition. Both sides presented the cat's nature to be leashed, and it was people wanted the responsibility of
council with petitions. cruel and inhumane. owning pets,they would also have to have
THE PROPOSED ordinance will the responsibiity of taking care of them.
require that all cats within the city be RUTH DESCHENE of the Minnesota "We're in favor of the ordinance,"
licensed, and restrained to the owner's State Humane Society showed a film to Geraldine Harrison, 2092 Barclay St.,
property. If the cats are taken from the the council about rabies.She emphasized said."We feel it's a privilege to have a pet
property, they must be leashed. The to the council and residents that by and it is upsetting to see wild animals
permit fee is$1.50 per cat,over the age of licensing cats,and requiring rabies shots, killed by cats. Only by restraining them
three months. Persons with more than the chances of rabies spreading in the can we prevent wild animals being
two cats over the age of three months area will be cut down. killed."
must apply for a small kennel license. "It is a responsibility when we take an A RESIDENT who owns four cats said
' : 'i , a r r ''`„ ; he thought leashing was offensive. Also,
' f -4,41.„.: he did not like the aspect of a kennel
€ license for anyone owningmore than two
.' ' , f,V4
cats."Because I am a cat owner,I believex in vaccinating and identifying the cats,"
it n1411 4;
�,
Jim Commander, identifying
Sylvan St., said.
f '4 "But, it's the leashing I find offensive. I
a t would have to build a dome over my yard
to keep them in. I think we just need a
general nuisance ordinance so persons
who are having problems with neighbors
cats would have some recourse."
Councilman Earl Nelson moved
adoption of the ordinance as it reads,and
Councilman Burton Murdock seconded.
The council voted four to one to adopt.
MICKI,a nine-year-old Persian,and a resident of Maplewood,models what the best Mayor John Greavu voted against,
dressed cats in town will be wearing. The Maplewood city council approved an or- because he said he would like to give
dinance for control of domestic cats Thursday that will require all cats be leashed residents more of an opportunity to read
when off their premises and kept under restraint. the ordinance.