City euthanized 324 stray cats in 2008
A by-product of last year’s pit bull ban is the five-person Animal Safety and Welfare Board. It was created by city council with the expectation it would serve as a sounding board for possible changes in the city’s approach to dangerous dogs. Until recently, it had not met much at all.
Four members of the group, including Councilperson Kevin Butler (Ward 1), along with a few members of the public convened August 19, 2009 to discuss a minor revision to the ban and a potential trap-neuter-release (TNR) plan for feral cats. The meeting agenda also called for discussion on how to revise the breed specific ban.
Trap-neuter-release
Research has shown a city’s stray cat population can be managed through a TNR system whereby the cat is trapped, then vaccinated and spay or neutered (sometimes called altering), and released. Mike Stewart, Lakewood animal control officer, provided statistics indicating the city has impounded about 500 cats a year since 2006. 526 cats, many who were pregnant, were impounded in 2008. 18 were claimed. 149 were adopted. The rest were euthanized.
The majority of the impounded cats are brought by citizens to the Lakewood Animal Shelter, according to Stewart.
A TNR program could control the city’s stray cat population and cut down on the number animals that need to be euthanized. An immediate obstacle to such a program is its cost. It costs about $40 to alter and vaccinate a cat. In addition, the city has a law prohibiting residents from trapping animals. Stewart said nuisance laws would make it difficult for him to release animals in the city.
Melissa Linkemann contacted the Cleveland Animal Protective League and learned they are overwhelmed with Cleveland’s cats and weren’t interested in partnering with Lakewood — or any city for that matter — on a TNR program.
Sean Lavin, chairperson of the board, said they needed to do more research on the topic and, among other things, figure out how to present a good cost-benefit analysis to council. Stewart said dogs absorb more of his time than cats do. Euthanizing cats doesn’t cost much, but it is stressful, he added.
A member of the public mentioned Long Island has an impressive TNR program.
Slight revision to the Pit Bull ban ordinance
Councilperson Butler will present council with a small change to the pit bull ban. His revised ordinance is aimed at unknowing residents whose dog is legal under the ban’s grandfather clause, but unregistered. They will receive 30 days to get their dog in compliance.
He said there are a couple of related cases pending with Andrea Rocco, the mayor’s assistant. Without the revision, the animals would need to be removed from the city. Due to the urgency of the situation, Butler will ask council to approve the ordinance after just one reading. The board unanimously approved Butler’s suggested revision.
Discussion about breed ban changes cut short
It was clear a majority of people in the room were opposed to the breed specific pit bull ban. A member of the public asked Butler — with a touch of frustration and impatience — why he voted in favor of the law. The citizen felt he had not gotten a straight answer from any of the council members. Butler explained that although he received a lot of feedback from across the country expressing opposition to the law, his constituents generally supported the ban. He felt the compromises — grandfathering in existing dogs and creating a committee for further discussion — made the law less harsh. “I thought it was a reasonable balance,” he said.
Butler’s reply seemed to heighten the citizen’s level of dismay. He next wanted to know who was responsible for determining a dog’s breed and how he or she was qualified to make such a decision. The words spilled out of his mouth quickly with a noticeable trace of testiness.
Stewart, the animal control officer, quickly said, “I’d rather not talk about this.” Butler took note and said he joined the committee to look forward in a positive-thinking way. He said he didn’t “want to be attacked” for past decisions. Stewart indicated he didn’t care for the manner in which the citizen asked his question.
Sean Lavin, chair of the board, quickly stepped in and ended the conversation by wrapping up the meeting. The board will next meet on September 23rd at 7:00 p.m.
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