Wow -- $300 -- that's a steep fine to pay for letting/leaving your cat out.
I can't help but wonder if a lot of owners would just abandon the cat (especially if it was already an outdoor pet that they didn't see much anyway), rather than paying that price to get it back.
If that is the case, is this program contributing to the overcrowding at the animal shelters?
There is also that big risk of having your cat outdoors because the fox population is getting bigger and they are hungry this winter. They have been ripping open garbage on our street so kitty owners beware.
I am so glad my guys are indoor!
Its only overcrowding for a couple of days, when I talked to animal services located on Thickson Rd, the trap was a $50 deposite and animals were only held for 9 days before being... not an appropriate end, for an irresponsible owner. But what are the choices, I m sick of my garden being a litter box. My animals, cat and dog are never left out, and if they were $300 is worth it to keep the family happy, and pretty cheap for a hotel room for a couple of nights.
The whole licensing thing smells like a tax grab to me. They came to my door and told me that my two kitties (inside only) had to be licensed at a cost of $30 each. The license was good for life I was told... I politely told the gentleman to go eat his hat... Never heard anything more about it. While I don't like cat (or dog for that matter) poop in my garden I don't have an issue with cats being outside. This law to me ranks right up there with the no-parking-on-any-Whitby- street-for-more-than-three-hours-at-a-time ridiculousness...
Jordan.
No, most people and cat owners still seem to not be getting it. The exact same by-laws that apply to dogs also apply to cats, such as:
- Every cat and dog must be licensed! About two years ago PAW Animal Services went door to door in the entire subdivision. Even if your animal stays indoors 100% of the time.
- No cat or dog may be outside in a public area without a leash or inside a carrier.
I wonder when the last time was that someone received a ticket for letting their cat out? Both ridiculous laws whether they are enforced or not. When I lived on Portage Trail I had people parked across my driveway (so that I could not get in) when there was soccer on in Portage Park. Not for 3 hours mind you but calls to the city came to no fruition. If the parking thing irks you anywhere close to the amount the cat thing does then I would do something about it...
Jordan.
"This law to me ranks right up there with the no-parking-on-any-Whitby- street-for-more-than-three-hours-at-a-time ridiculousness..."
When was the last time you saw a car ticketed? I live on a street which I liken to living in a parking lot. There are houses on this street that have four cars - none of which park in the garage. They are parked either on the street or across the sidewalk all the time. Calling to get them tagged is a waste of time. Backing out of my driveway is a hazard every time
Regarding the cats.
No one should allow their dogs and cats to roam freely. It makes me crazy. If you want a cat, please have the responsibility to look after it. The house next to me has two cats which are never inside, even on the hottest day or the coldest night. I often find them curled up on my porch. They risk their lives each time they cross the road (I could never forgive myself if I hit an animal - even it if wasn't my fault) and then there is the fox thing.
I have fed strays and managed to find them homes, a friend of mine is a haven for stray cats, the latest one being the gray and white one referred to in my posting.
I just don't understand how people can treat their animals this way.
I agree with Opinionated. We have the animal by-laws and the parking bylaws for a reason. They are there to improve our area and not have these issues with our neighbours.
Jabber called the cat by-law a cash grab but it has a purpose. Letting a cat out into the area can create a huge problem. They damage property, they kill local wildlife, they are at a higher risk of being killed and if you are pregnant, their garden gifts can affect your pregnancy. I don't think anyone out there would like to have the fault of causing someone else's child to have birth defeats because they couldn't be bothered following the by-law. The $300 you pay to get your cat back from animal control is a lot but it is meant to make you think twice about letting your cat roam free again as well as supporting our local shelters already over run because people can't be responsible enough to spay or neuter their pets. If you catch a cat in the area, just go and drop it off at one of the PAW shelters. They will contact the owner if it is micro-chipped. If not, then it is the owner's job to call and find out where their cat is. They are also more likely to come pick-up a cat that you know is a neighbours because it is more likely for someone to come and get it plus they get that $300.
As for parking, it absolutely kills me that people think it is okay to park on the street all the time. Why the heck do you have a driveway? I can understand if you have visitors or if you are moving your vehicles that there may be the occasional car but driving down my street on a weekend has become an obstacle course. If the city wanted to make some fast money, they could easily just come and ticket on Saturday night. The parking by-law also has reason behind it. It protects your car from being hit by people driving through the area and allows emergency vehicles easier access to burning houses, criminal activity, and people in need of ambulances. It ensures that the snowplows plow our streets in the winter and that our garbage is removed year round. We went through a terrible bout with a neighbour because he kept parking at the end of our driveway and we were not receiving garbage pick up because of it. It is a pretty small chunk of curb between our driveways and if a car is there (which is against the by-law) the garbage guys won't go around it to pick up your garbage.
I think it is a pretty bleak outlook to think that these two issues can't be improved. I have found actually talking to my neighbours about these things can make a huge difference. It really isn't that hard following the rules and most people just don't know that they are doing something wrong. If you calmly go to them and explain the situation, they are usually receptive enough to try.
cakcam wrote:
I must argue one point of yours Kitty. About the pregnancy and gardening. I have 2 kids and had cats when I was pregnant with them. My hubby usually cleaned the litter box because of this...however when he was away and I would have to do it...I wore rubber gloves and usually when you are gardening you are wearing gloves anyways and wash your hands when you come in right?? I think thats a real long shot...someone loosing there baby after gardening because of a loose cat??? Come on a bit far fetched.
Again pick your battles carefully
vrehorst wrote:
There's a battle going on? I don't see one...
cakcam wrote:
pick your battles carefully with your neighbours....meaning dont complain if its a once in awhile thing and dont make mountains out of of a mole hill
As far as I am concerned there was no 'battle' but isn't that the beauty of this kind of site? Someone can always perceive what you are saying as personal. My post from yesterday was meant to actually make people think about why we have the bylaws not to personally attack anyone. Everyone on this site complains about problems with their neighbours. Going and actually talking to them doesn't create a battle situation it opens conversation but then I guess it all depends on your previous relationship with your neighbours and your attitude when you do talk to them.
<<SNIP>>
Personally, I love that we have rabbits in our back yard and that this community won't get much bigger because of our conservation area.
<<SNIP>>
Well keep in mind that rabbits poop too. Probably more so than cats. And they are truly "wild" with all the related health issues. Maybe we should license them too? LOL....
Jabber.
cakcam wrote:
I must argue one point of yours Kitty. About the pregnancy and gardening. I have 2 kids and had cats when I was pregnant with them. My hubby usually cleaned the litter box because of this...however when he was away and I would have to do it...I wore rubber gloves and usually when you are gardening you are wearing gloves anyways and wash your hands when you come in right?? I think thats a real long shot...someone loosing there baby after gardening because of a loose cat??? Come on a bit far fetched.
Again pick your battles carefully
vrehorst wrote:
There's a battle going on? I don't see one...
cakcam wrote:
pick your battles carefully with your neighbours....meaning dont complain if its a once in awhile thing and dont make mountains out of of a mole hill
As far as I am concerned there was no 'battle' but isn't that the beauty of this kind of site? Someone can always perceive what you are saying as personal. My post from yesterday was meant to actually make people think about why we have the bylaws not to personally attack anyone. Everyone on this site complains about problems with their neighbours. Going and actually talking to them doesn't create a battle situation it opens conversation but then I guess it all depends on your previous relationship with your neighbours and your attitude when you do talk to them.
My last $.02 on this is that while the trap may be effective in removing the cat from your yard it won't make you very popular. It seems to be little things like this that drive wedges between neighbours.
Jabber.
well first of all cats get hit by cars everyday everywhere,so do squirrels and dogs and what about KIDS!!! I would much rather spend my time worrying about the jerks that speed through this community and might hit the kids then animals. Unfortunately you are never gonna get through to some pet owners...you just have to do what you can do for your own pets and get on with it.
But the whole point of me starting this thread was to say there IS something that can be done and we are going to get that trap.
If you have an outdoor cat in the Portage area or one that likes to venture far and it all of a sudden goes missing - give the Animal Services Department on Thickson Road a call and get out your cheque book!
If it's the cat I think it is, the owner doesn't live on Portage, but rather in the south end of the neighborhood.
Again, if it's the house I'm thinking of, they have more than one cat, all of them spend the majority of their time outside, and the cats have created lovely litter boxes in quite a few yards down here.
If you don't have a problem with outdoor cats I'll invite you down to my back garden when the snow all melts in the spring and you can help clean up the disgusting, stinking, rotted mess left behind by the cats.
My last $.02 on this is that while the trap may be effective in removing the cat from your yard it won't make you very popular. It seems to be little things like this that drive wedges between neighbours.
Jabber.
well first of all cats get hit by cars everyday everywhere,so do squirrels and dogs and what about KIDS!!! I would much rather spend my time worrying about the jerks that speed through this community and might hit the kids then animals. Unfortunately you are never gonna get through to some pet owners...you just have to do what you can do for your own pets and get on with it.
But the whole point of me starting this thread was to say there IS something that can be done and we are going to get that trap.
If you have an outdoor cat in the Portage area or one that likes to venture far and it all of a sudden goes missing - give the Animal Services Department on Thickson Road a call and get out your cheque book!