Morinville councillors put the final tweaks on a proposed pet bylaw last week and dropped any notion of licensing cats.
The bylaw received first reading ahead of a proposed public hearing on Feb. 15. It was left unchanged from its draft version that did not require cats to be licensed.
After the bylaw was first presented to council, Coun. Lisa Holmes had asked for more information on the issue, worried that new provisions in the bylaw would be difficult to enforce. She said she is now confident it won’t be an issue.
“We just wanted the information and we were told that it was not going to happen and there was really no point in doing it.”
Morinville’s interim manager of enforcement service Donna Tona told council research she had done on other municipalities that require licensing showed many of them required it but never enforced it through fines or tickets.
“It is kind of a redundant thing.”
Tona said with the exception of stray or feral cats where there is likely no owner to find, the town has never really encountered any problems locating the owners of wayward cats.
She said between personal tags, microchips and simply owners who come looking, town bylaw officers have so far been able to find the owners of the animals they have brought in.
Holmes said she wanted to ensure the problem of roaming cats was addressed and as long as that will happen, she is comfortable.
“I don’t think we need a specific solution towards licensing cats or not, as long as the problem of having roaming cats is addressed.”
Mayor Lloyd Bertschi said he is happy with the attention the bylaw has received over the last few weeks.
“We have had lots of input from residents on what it could or shouldn’t be and I think they have done a nice job.”
Among the new features of the bylaw is a prohibition on cats roaming at large that would fine owners $120 if their cat is found out on the lam.
The bylaw would also allow the town to attach unpaid veterinary bills, connected to enforcement, to a resident’s property taxes.
The bylaw would also requires dogs to be on a leash in parks, playgrounds and school areas and has stronger fines for owners who don’t pick up after their animals.
