[MissoulaGov] Highlights for Monday's public hearings

[Lynn Ascher]

I would like to comment on Rod Austin's statement that feral cats are  
"prominent carriers of rabies."  According to the U.S. Center for  
Disease Control from 1981-1999 in the United States there were only  
37 cases of humans having contracted rabies; 22 were from bats, 14  
from dogs, and one from a skunk.  Additionally, coyotes, raccoons and  
foxes are also carriers.

This is corroborated by statistics posted on the website of the  
Berkeley CA municipal animal shelter: "Since they are not a natural  
vector for rabies, cats, including ferals, pose a very low risk for  
contracting and spreading rabies.  In 1998 only three cats tested  
positive for rabies in all of California.  There are no known cases  
of a human ever contracting rabies from a cat in the state of  
California."

Also I am wondering if Mr. Austin is using the term "feral cat" when  
he really means free-roaming neighborhood cats who have owners and  
homes, and spend time in them.  Feral cats are descendants of  
domestic cats whose owners abandoned them and/or did not spay or  
neuter them. After several generations of living and breeding on  
their own, they return to a "wild" unsocialized state, live in  
colonies, and avoid humans.  Controlling feral cat populations  
through euthanasia programs has generally failed because the former  
colonies are immediately repopulated by other abandoned, breeding  
cats and thus the cycle begins all over again.  Much more successful  
are long term TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs wherein a colony's  
feral residents are trapped, spayed or neutered and returned to their  
original colony where volunteers feed and water them.  They also trap  
any new residents for spaying or neutering.  Ultimately, with no  
breeding going on, the colony dies out as its residents die.  For  
anyone who is interested: The Humane Society of Western Montana  
sponsors a TNR feral cat program.  Also HSWM and Animal Control  
regularly hold low-cost spay/neuter clinics for domestic cats.

As for the very annoying habits of free-roaming neighborhood domestic  
cats, I subscribe to keeping cats indoors.  I have four cats who have  
lived happily indoors since kittenhood.  They never make a mess of my  
or my neighbors' yards; they're never been attacked by predators  
(including humans) or other cats, hit by cars, poisoned, trapped, got  
lost, kidnapped, or stuck in somebody's basement, etc.  They have not  
killed any birds. And they are not neurotic because they don't go  
outdoors. And, as a result of living indoors exclusively, their life  
spans will be three times that of cats who go outdoors.



On Jan 12, 2009, at 8:28 AM, Rod Austin wrote:

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







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/ 
2008/2008-12-15/2008CatOrdinanceAmendment%5B1%5D.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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