[Vision2020] Responsible pet ownership

[French]

Bill French has asked me to forward this message to Vision 2020

The city of Moscow is currently drafting a new animal control ordinance which, unfortunately, will not require the licensing or containment of cats. This exclusion is on the direction of the council administrative committee and John Dickinson, who is council liaison to the ordinance writing committee. John thinks that cats, including his own, have more right to use property than the owner who's paying the mortgage and taxes.

While cats have always had free run in Moscow, cats cause many problems when allowed to run loose. Contrary to popular opinion, domestic cats are not "wildlife" and are not part of any natural ecosystem. Housecats have been domesticated over thousands of years and were introduced to North America by European immigrants. Our native birds and mammals did not evolve with the small, abundant, sheltered, and well-fed predator called "Fluffy". The result is that domestic cats are the second-leading cause of declining bird populations worldwide, killing hundreds of millions annually. 

Free-roaming cats also violate the private property rights of those who don't wish to have cats hunting, defecating or spraying on their property. Not only do free-roaming cats spread disease to other cats, they also can spread disease to humans (potentially by contaminating garden soil). Well-fed, declawed cats with bells on their collars will still hunt successfully, just for fun. Unaltered free-roaming cats contribute greatly to the cat over-population problem, which places unsupportable burdens on wildlife and animal shelters alike. 

If you'd like more information about a national campaign to end the problem of free-roaming cats, go to the CATS INDOORS! link on www.abcbirds.org. If you'd like to sign a petition requesting that the Moscow city council place restrictions on cats, Email catsindoors at moscow.com. This campaign is not against cats - just the irresponsible ownership of them.

Bill French
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