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Show Proposal draws ire County cat licensing ordinance has caused concern among many animal supporters By TOM HARALDSEN FARMINGTON A proposed county ordinance that would require re-quire owners of five or more cats to get them licensed has drawn the ire and concern of the vice president of a local animal welfare group. Lynn Bradak of Farmington, co-founder co-founder of Help Save the Animals, Inc., says her concern over the ordinance is that it is "too vague and too difficult to enforce. If I was convinced it would help curb the cat population, I'd be in favor of it. But I am not." The ordinance is still in the proposal prop-osal stage, and has yet to come before be-fore the county commission for formal for-mal action. Under the proposal, owners of five or more cats would be required to have them licensed. Mrs. Bradak stated the idea of cat licensing is not new, adding that it has worked with great success in urban areas. "We are not in an urban area in Davis County, however. With all the pockets of unincorporated areas, this ordinance ordi-nance would be very difficult to enforce." She pointed out that Salt Lake County considered a similar ordinance ordi-nance for two years before deciding decid-ing that "Optional licensing was the way to go." She also said cuts in the county animal control budget for the new fiscal year will make enforcement even more difficult. Mrs. Bradak said part of the new ordinance as it pertains to nuisance animals is already addressed in the current ordinance. "A lot of what I'm told they are trying to address is already covered. Cats don't attack people, and yet they seem to want the county to license them as they do dogs." She said only about 25 perce nt of the dogs in Davis County are currently cur-rently licensed, and added "until they can enforce that ordinance property, it's absurd to expect an'tnal control officials to chase after af-ter cats." Of at least as much concern to Mrs. Bradak is the collar issue, forcing cats to wear licensing collars. col-lars. "It is much more dangerous to cats, as has been proven. Cats climb trees, jump over fences, and can even suffer injuries with collars when they crawl through bushes." She said she has had two pet cats die of strangulation because of collars col-lars becoming stuck on fences. What she is seeking is a chance to meet with the commissioners, to give some opposing viewpoints and work together in a committee to pound out a solution to the problem prob-lem of cat overpopulation. "The intent is good, but this ordinance is short-sighted, unenforceable, unen-forceable, and we feel that even with revision, the best approach to curbing the problem remains public pub-lic education." Help Save the Animals was founded in October 1983, and is a non-profit animal welfare and rescue res-cue organization of volunteers. Mrs. Bradak says the organization "is a support group. We don't want to battle with government officials. We are simply seeking a quiet meeting where we can present our views and our ideas. We feel the progressive approach is to go for education, and that's what we are seeking." She added that her organization is also concerned that required vaccinations for pets are so costly. She pointed out, for example, that a regular rabies shot for a dog or cat costs an average of $14, while the vaccine for such a shot can run ab-- ab-- out 70 cents. The cat licensing ordinance will likely be discussed by the commission commis-sion in earnest early this new year. |
