[MissoulaGov] Highlights for Monday's public hearings

[Rod Austin]

I think Derek has hit the nail on the head. My sister in law is a small
animal vet north of Philly and in that area all pets are treated the same.
Leash law and all, they make no difference. There is a responsibility to
your neighbors as well as your pets. Take care of them and keep them under
your control. Is it healthy or responsible for your cat to be attacked by
dogs and other wild animals?

 

I have cats urinating all over my patio set, bbq, under my porch,  under my
shed and in my garage when they can get in. I finally started catching them
in a live trap and taking them to the animal shelter. Keep the fines high
for any loose animal.

 

How do you think we will ever get a handle on the feral cat problems we
have. They are a prominent carrier of rabies. Any cat (or dog)caught should
have the requirement of being altered prior to going back to the owner.

 

Believe it or not I am an animal lover. That is why when I owned a pet I
kept under my control at all times!

 

Thanks for the work you do!

 

Rod Austin

 

From: missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com
[mailto:missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com] On Behalf Of Derek Goldman
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 12:55 PM
To: bjaffe at ci.missoula.mt.us; missoulagov at cmslists.com
Subject: Re: [MissoulaGov] Highlights for Monday's public hearings

 

thanks for the heads up, Bob. Re the cat ordinance:

I'm not sure why the ammendment proposes to change the definition of a
bothersome cat from "nuisance" to "unnattended." I looked up the dog
ordinance, and bothersome DOGS are indeed referred to as "nuisance." So why
not cats? We should be consistent so as not to send a message that dogs can
be bothersome, but cats cannot be.

I would also recommend one additional change to close a loophole in the cat
ordinance:
In the definition of a nuisance/unattended cat, please strike the last 4
words of the sentence that requires a cat to be unaltered in order to fit
the definition.  If a cat is off it's owner's property, then it may be
causing problems with its neighbors irrespective of its reproductive status.
Excessive cat breeding is indeed a problem, but it is only one problem
caused by loose cats. Urination and defecation in private and community
gardens, flower beds, compost piles, and under decks, as well as harassment
of native wildlife and other pets also present problems. But as the
ordinance is currently writen, a cat can legally do all these things as long
as it is neutered or spayed. That seems odd (and also inconsistent with dog
ordinance, which lists "defecation..." as one of the many activities that
define a nuisance dog). Please send this back for reconsideration. 
Thanks, Derek Goldman

 






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Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:53:32 -0700
From: BJaffe at ci.missoula.mt.us
To: missoulagov at cmslists.com
Subject: [MissoulaGov] Highlights for Monday's public hearings

We have five public hearings scheduled for tomorrow.

Here are some highlights in case anyone wants to come and comment (you can
also comment by sending mail to council at ci.missoula.mt.us).

 

Cats:  

ftp://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/Packets/Council/2008/2008-12-15/2008CatOrdinance
Amendment%5B1%5D.pdf
<ftp://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/Packets/Council/2008/2008-12-15/2008CatOrdinanc
eAmendment[1].pdf> 

 

There are a few changes to the ordinance being proposed. 

'Nuisance cat' is replaced by 'unattended cat'. An unattended cat is an
unaltered cat off of its owner's property. To be the owner of an unattended
cat is illegal.

A breeding cat is an unaltered cat 4 months old. It used to be six months.

 

It is unlawful to own a pair of unaltered cats of the opposite sex without a
breeders license.

It is unlawful to own more than five cats without a breeders license (this
appears to be the controversial one)

 

A breeders license costs $50 and requires an inspection.

 

Dogs:

Pet Day Care Centers are defined.  

Leashes are required within 200 feet of trailheads.

If an unaltered dog is picked up three times in its life it gets sterilized.
There used to be an option to pay $250 to avoid sterilization.

The following paragraph is included in the unlawful section:

 

For a dog owner to cause, allow, permit, either willfully or by failure to

exercise due care, to allow a dog to be a nuisance barking dog. EXCEPT:

that such sounds made at animal shelters, commercial kennels, pet daycare

centers and veterinary hospitals which meet the proper zoning requirements

2. shall be exempt 

 

The "Pet Daycare centers" were included in the exemption when it was
originally presented to us. I asked that this be removed. I am hoping to
hear from people on this prior to making a final decision.  These businesses
can have a very high impact on their neighbors.

 

Park Fees:

General incremental increase in the parks fees. There may be some open
issues on the rate set for the 50 meter pool. There was an expectation that
it would be rented out at full cost this year but I believe the proposal
still has a general fund subsidy.

 

Other Public Hearings:

We also have a couple of annexations including the large Linda Vista Estates
subdivision.

 

Bob Jaffe

Missoula City Council, Ward 3

bjaffe at ci.missoula.mt.us

               406-728-1052        

 

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Windows LiveT: Keep your life in sync. See how it works.
<http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_012
009> 

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