[ SHOWGSD-L ] Rhode Island - I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY READ THIS!!!
- From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 14:00:10 -0400
We have been saying for years that shelters are breeding. Now it will be
law!!!
DO YOU SEE A FUTURE WHEN ONLY THE ARs WILL CONTROL PET BREEDING?
Ginger Cleary - Rome, GA www.rihadin.com
"Laws against something 'that other guy' does will eventually get US because
we are all someone's 'other guy.' " Walt Hutchens,2007
-----Original Message-----
http://www.eastbayri.com/story/327243080489171.php
Proposed ordinance targets cats; law will ban cat breeding
Further proof that it's a dog's world has come in the form of a new
law affecting cats in Barrington. Should an amended pet care ordinance pass
at next month's town council meeting, cat owners in Barrington will have to
show proof that their pet has been spayed or neutered before receiving a pet
license. Town solicitor Michael Ursillo recommended the amendment to bring
Barrington into compliance with a similar state law that was approved last
June.
*Going a step beyond the state, however, Barrington's amended
ordinance also calls for a ban on private cat breeding. If approved, the
town will only allow a licensed releasing agency ? pounds, shelters, and
other pet agencies ? to breed cats (the new state law, alternatively,
created a cat breeder permit program open to residents). *
"This is just a way of controlling the cat population," explained
Mr. Ursillo, who added that he didn't believe many Barrington residents bred
cats anyway.
According to Barrington Animal Control Officer Joseph Benedetti,
it's likely that nobody knows the actual number, considering the absence of
any registration laws for cat breeders in town.
Unlike dogs, which are limited to three per household in Barrington,
there is no limit to the number of cats per household, as well, added Mr.
Benedetti.
"I'm not going to go knocking on doors looking for cats," he said.
Mr. Benedetti claimed that there was a population of feral cats in
town, however, though the numbers have decreased over the years. Altering
cats, he said, was an effective way of not only further decreasing that
population, but making better pets, as well.
"All animals should be neutered or spayed," he said. "It makes them
calmer, less aggressive, and you don't have to worry about other cats or
dogs coming around."
According to lawmakers, the state's large feral cat population was
indication that pet alteration needed to be a legal requirement, and not
just a recommendation. According to the Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management, 39 municipal pounds and eight private shelters had
to euthanize nearly 7,000 cats between 2002 and 2004.
"Many feral cats are sick, malnourished or injured from fights with
other animals," said Rhode Island House Speaker Tempore Charlene M. Lima
(D-Dist. 14, Cranston), one of the lawmakers who sponsored the state pet
care laws last year. "Over 2,000 of them are put to death each year, simply
because they could not find adoptive homes."
And according to Mr. Benedetti, cats can multiply quickly; he said
he had seen statistics estimating that two cats could eventually create a
population of thousands in the span of five years.
In a town like Barrington, feral cat populations aren't "as
prevalent as they once were," he said, but can still cause problems. In
addition to killing smaller native species, feral cats often succumb to
wandering coyotes, whose presence in residential neighborhoods is another
problem altogether.
If the Barrington Town Council approves the amended town ordinance
following a public hearing next month, cat owners won't be able to add to
that population, at least. When the town's annual pet licensing period rolls
around next April, those residents will have to have proof that the cat was
altered to get a license, which is required by state and local law (there
would be no such requirement for dog licenses, however).
If they don't, they may face penalties; according to Rhode Island
General Law, pet owners who are found in violation of a state law could have
to pay a fine of $500 for a first offense.
License fee change
In addition to the amended pet care ordinance, the town council will
also consider a resolution adjusting the fee structure for licensing pets.
If approved, the resolution would stipulate that both dog and cat licenses
require a $5 fee per license. There will also be a $1 spay/neuter surcharge
for dog licenses. The old law stated that unaltered animals required a $5
fee, while altered animals required a $3 fee.
BY SCOTT O'CONNELL
soconnell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
__._,_.___
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.7.1/807 - Release Date: 5/16/2007
6:05 PM
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org
============================================================================
Other related posts:
- » [ SHOWGSD-L ] Rhode Island - I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY READ THIS!!!
