PrintPenhold is alone on cat control
Innisfail has a cat bylaw. Olds has one. Didsbury has its own. And Carstairs has a cat bylaw.
Penhold does not. For a community experiencing a remarkable boom in its economic fortunes during a time of ongoing national and global trials that is a shame.
Getting on board with other Central Alberta communities with its own cat bylaw would have also shown that Penhold wants to be a leader in progressive community policy as well.
In dramatic fashion on Dec. 19 council opted to kill its controversial cat bylaw, the first comprehensive one ever attempted, on second reading.
It was a sudden end to a process that angered up to a quarter of its 2,100 citizens. A petition was launched in the fall against the town’s proposed bylaw. Citizens were upset over what they believed were unreasonable pricing provisions for licensing ($25 for neutered cats and $50 for non-neutered), and a proposed cap on the number of cats in a household.
Even though the petition was ruled to be illegal under the provincial Municipal Government Act, council was still left to deal with it following an emotional meeting in November when up to two dozen people packed the chamber to voice their concern with the bylaw. The optics would have been bad to say the least if council ignored what was obviously a powerful community statement against it.
But was simply defeating the bylaw on second reading and promising to get more community input through social media the best available remedy?
Some might argue council’s move was simply washing its hands of an issue it could not or did not want to handle, although Mayor Dennis Cooper vehemently denies that suggestion.
Too often, however, promises by any government, municipal, provincial or federal, that controversial issues will be dealt with in the future with full public input get forgotten or lost on some dusty shelf.
We hope councillors heard loud and clear on Dec. 19 the presentation made by Carole Kelly, executive director of the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, on the benefits for not only cats but their human neighbours and the communities as a whole with a sound, reasonable and humane bylaw.
Kelly told council members that the issue of abandoned cats is a “huge” problem, not only in Penhold and in the region but across North America where at last count there were 100 million stray felines living “horrible” lives. She said in this region people in desperation are turning to her agency to drop off unwanted cats. Despite the fact that caring for homeless domestic cats is not officially part of her agency’s mandate, the centre has taken 70 felines this year.
“Often cats are not given any value. By licensing them we give them some value,” said Kelly. “It is already making a difference in Calgary. It is a win-win situation. It can only do cats good, as well as other wildlife and people. Your bylaw is only the beginning. You need to educate people.”
Sadly, an hour later town council opted to kill the proposed bylaw - instead of rolling up its sleeves, tabling it, and making a commitment it would look at amendments on a set date in the new year. Council had a chance to prove leadership here. It can do so again as long as it commits to a serious revisiting of this issue.
Although no cat bylaw is perfect it is indisputable that such legislations are ultimately humane for felines, reduce incidences of animal cruelty, increase better relationships between neighbours and without exception make every single community better.
Penhold is on the cusp of becoming a truly great Alberta community. It has moved a long way in solving its annual flooding issues and is becoming an immensely attractive community to live in with its enviable amenities and location.
It now only needs to prove it can also wrestle a troubling community issue with grit, determination and perseverance.
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