Huron-Kinloss has no interest in regulating cats in the township
By: Liz Dadson
August 17, 2021
Huron-Kinloss council has no interest in having a cat registration in order to regulate felines in the township.
At the council meeting Monday night (Aug. 16), a report from bylaw enforcement officer Heather Falconer was discussed and council has agreed with a proposed bylaw to "prohibit the feeding of wild animals and feral domestic animals that cause a threat to the public health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants (of Huron-Kinloss)."
In the report, Falconer said that Aug. 4, committee-of-the-whole authorized a draft bylaw on this issue.
Aug. 9, a letter was received from the public noting that the nuisance cats in the Point Clark area are not wildlife or feral, and urged council to consider a bylaw to control cats from running freely off the property, and set up a cat registration system similar to the one in Hanover.
Falconer said that previous council discussions indicated no interest in registering cats. As for the draft bylaw, it is the best method for regulating the feeding of nuisance animals, including cats, and prohibits any food being left outdoors that may attract wildlife or potentially-dangerous animals.
In Hanover, the purpose of the cat registration is to return cats to their owners when found running at large, said Falconer.
“Council could consider regulating cats in a similar manner to the running-at-large aspect in our own animal control bylaw, in the way that if a cat is found running at large and no owner is found, the cat would be impounded,” she said. “The township does not have its own facility to house impound cats; therefore, the cat(s) may be impounded at our registered pound, if allowed. If council wishes to pursue this avenue further, staff could bring back an additional report.”
In the bylaw, the fine is $250 for: intentionally feeding a feral animal or a wild animal or leaving food or attractants; allowing any device or other material outside so it attracts wild animals; failure to remove any food, attractant, device or other material outdoors to attract, or be accessible by, feral or wild animals; or intentionally feeding, or causing to be fed, nuisance birds.
“I’m not remotely interested in getting into this business,” said councillor Jim Hanna. “Our resources are thin enough as it is. I feed birds and I get the odd raccoon, but I’m not asking for a bylaw to regulate raccoons. Stop wasting our time.”
“I agree,” said councillor Ed McGugan. “People should just deal with the issue. With the Point Clark situation, the neighbours are unhappy. They’re suggesting something similar to the bylaw in Hanover. Well that’s good for Hanover, it’s a large, urban municipality; we’re a rural municipality.”
He said the staff recommendation is a balanced approach and is the best way to move forward on this. “We can fine the residents who cause problems with the cats.”
Chief building official Matt Farrell said that if a nuisance animal is on your property, you can trap it. He also noted there are fines in the bylaw to be levied against people who are feeding wild animals and attracting them to the neighbourhood. “That’s what the fines are for.”
Mayor Mitch Twolan said the concern in Point Clark is that the cats are born on the property.
“That’s a dicey situation,” said Farrell. “You can’t control that with a bylaw. In that situation, you’re not going to stop a person from having excess cats. The bylaw informs people of the rules, but they’re passionate about their cats. No matter what bylaw you put in place, you’re not going to deter them from having excess cats.”
Later in the meeting, council approved the bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wild animals and feral domestic animals that cause a threat to the public health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of Huron-Kinloss.
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