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Council tables decision for cat control, licenses

Staff reporter

The cats of Marion are safe for another two weeks.

Marion City Council tabled decisions Monday regarding an ordinance that could require the licensing and/or population control of felines within the city limits.

City attorney Dan Baldwin provided two types of ordinances for the council to consider — one would require cats to be vaccinated and licensed, similar to dogs, the other would identify nuisance cats and would not require licensing.

Baldwin said he had contacted local veterinarian Jessica Laurin of Animal Health Center of Marion County, and she was willing to house and euthanize cats but had limited space.

Councilman Gene Winkler asked what the cost would be to enforce?

Baldwin replied that the City of Peabody pays someone $200 a month and a set price for catching cats.

City administrator David Mayfield said the veterinarian would charge the city the same rate for cats as for dogs which would be $20 per cat, $10 per day, and $15 to euthanize after three days for a total of $65 per cat.

Councilman Jerry Kline asked how this would be enforced.

"It's difficult to trace cat owners," he said. "What's going to be gained by doing this? The city council has more important things to do than regulate cats."

During the public forum portion of the meeting, former city commissioner Jim Crofoot said he appreciated Kline's comments and added it was a "terrible idea" and use of resources.

Here are the breakdowns of the two proposed ordinances.

The first, less stringent ordinance would not require a city license for each cat. However, if a cat becomes a nuisance, humane cat traps would be provided to the complainants for a refundable deposit. When the cat is captured, the complainant can deliver the cat to the animal control shelter and return the trap for the deposit.

Animal control can set traps where free roaming nuisance cats are suspected.

When the cats are impounded and if they are not spayed or neutered, the owner would have to pay for the procedure before the cat was returned.

The animal shelter would impound the cats for at least 72 hours prior to adoption or disposal.

Owners found guilty of first offenses would be fined not less than $25. Each offense within a 12-month period would result in an additional $25 fine.

The second proposed ordinance would require cat owners to register and tag cats more than six months of age for $5 per year. Proof of immunization against rabies is required.

No more than three cats, six months of age or older or more than one litter of kittens, would be allowed in any one residence.

No cat may run at-large without being tagged. Any cat caught without a current tag would be impounded. For the first offense, the owner would pay a fine of $50, the board bill, and registration fees. Any impounded cat would not be released without a current rabies vaccination.

Similar to the dog nuisance ordinance, any cat that becomes a nuisance to others could result in the keeper or harborer being fined between $10 and $100.

The ordinance also addresses cat bites and rabies incidents.

Baldwin asked the council to review the ordinances and make suggestions at the next council meeting.

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