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Like herding cats

I was a little surprised at the outcome of last week's Marion City Council meeting when the council voted 3-2 to have an ordinance drawn to regulate cats.

It's true that cats can be a nuisance and can carry diseases. There are times when there is a population explosion of wild cats and kittens in town.

Our men in brown spend enough time chasing dogs gone wild. Catching a cat is a whole new game.

Additional equipment, supplies, carriers, and more expense with the local veterinarian are among expenses that come to mind.

Personally, I would like to see every dog and cat in town vaccinated, tagged, and safe from harm. If this ordinance was just for those issues, I would be more supportive.

Like any other rule or regulation, probably 50-60 percent of cat owners will not follow the ordinance, so there will be numerous violators.

And, we have to keep in mind, that cats are not dogs. They are free-will animals — leashes, pens, etc., are not humane ways of keeping them. Plus the majority of these cats on the loose, without collars and licenses, won't have owners.

My questions are: Who will round up the cats? How will they be claimed? Who will pay $50, $100, or more to bail out Fluffy from kitty jail?

I'm afraid the city could be left holding the kitty litter for those animals who aren't claimed or don't have owners. Care and euthanasia will not come at a small price.

I am all for the humane treatment of animals but question whether this is a top priority for the use of city funds.

— SUSAN BERG

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