Owen Sound Wants to Eliminate Wildlife
Apparently, there are not enough real problems to occupy the city council of Owen Sound, Ottawa. The city council has decided to focus on starving wildlife. Not helping starving wildlife. But starving wildlife.
The council has voted to fine anyone caught feeding a wild animal $205. Bird feeders are exempt, but forget anything like bread crumbs that might attract the squirrels. Only bird feed is allowed. Cut off that cute raccoon family you give food. And nothing for the deer. Of course, stop feeding your stray cat colony - or anyone else's.
Any product that might attract wild animals must be removed. So, I guess, put your trash on the roof. But no - it might attract birds and they can only be fed bird seed. Best keep your trash inside the house.
My question is what will happen if squirrels get into the bird feeders? Or a deer knocks over the bird feeder and begins eating the seed? Will the owner be fined?
So much for compassion and respect for other living beings that share the planet. Now, in Owen Sound, they are all to die of starvation.
This law will be enforced by the police and animal control. Will the city council appropriate night vision goggles so animal control can get the raccoons, the deer, the cats, eating in the dark of night? What about overtime for animal control who must work at night to secure Owen Sound from the nocturnal wildlife trying to grab something to stave off hunger and starvation in the dead of winter?
Ask the Owen Sound officials yourself. Write or call each of them and urge them to repeal this law and work to find humane solutions to overpopulations of wildlife in urban areas. Here, for example, is why starving feral cats won't eliminate them.
Mayor's Office
2nd Floor, City Hall
808 2nd Avenue East
Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H4
Phone: (519) 376-1440 Fax: (519) 376-3579
Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanner's e-mail: mailto:rlovell@e-owensound.com?subject=Request%20Council%20Information
Mayor Lovell Stanner's E. A. & Public Relations Coordinator Gail Norris can be reached at 519-376-4440, Ex. 211 or by e-mail at mailto:gnorris@city.owen-sound.on.ca?subject=e-owensound.com%20Mayor's%20Office%20Inquiry or by fax at 519-376-3579
Councillor David Adair
e-mail: mailto:dadair@e-owensound.com?subject=e-owensound.com%20inquiry
Councillor John Christie
e-mail:mailto:jchristie@e-owensound.com?subject=e-owensound.com%20council%20inquiry
Councillor Deborah Haswell
e-mail:mailto:dhaswell@e-owensound.com?subject=e-owensound.com%20council%20inquiry
Councillor Peter Lemon
e-mail:mailto:plemon@e-owensound.com?subject=e-owensound.com%20council%20inquiry
Councillor Jim McManaman
e-mail: mailto:jmcmanaman@e-owensound.com?subject=e-owensound.com%20council%20inquiry
Councillor Tom Pink
e-mail: mailto:pinkt@e-owensound.com?subject=e-owensound.com%20inquiry
Councillor Bill Twaddle
e-mail: mailto:the.ed@rogers.com?subject=Request%20Owen%20Sound%20Council%20Information
City/County Councillor Arlene Wright
e-mail: mailto:awright@e-owensound.com?subject=e-owensound.com%20council%20inquiry
Please also send your email to the Owen Sound Police at the below email address and call at the below number....
Phone: (519) 376-1234
Email info@owensoundpolice.com
Petaluma feral cats ordinance coming up May 18, 2009
Petaluma, California banned all cats from most areas of the city. We have been working passionately to reverse this inhumane ordinance and finally it is coming up at council on May 18. We are looking for a model ordinance that we can present to council to replace the one of 2004. If you know of a good feral cat ordinance for a small city 60,000 - with wetlands could you point it out to me? elle@svn.net We will have two attorneys present and plan to challenge the new ordinance if not humane to the cats. Thanks for your help. Elle
feral cat ordinances
Hi Elle-
I've been researching similar ordinances, because although we don't have a ban, there are few protections for feral cats in our area and I've been seeking ordinances that explicitly promote and regulate TNR and so far I've liked Clark County, NV's approach (with some modifications.) No wetlands there, I presume, but I like that it gives caregivers a good amount of latitude while still allowing animal control to do their job on true nuisances. Ot requires registry of colonies and automatically assigns a sponsor to the colony to serve as a mediator in cases of disputes. It beats the all or nothing regulations which promote TNR and then gives no recourse when the cat is 'roaming at large.' It does not exempt cats from the roaming at large ordinance, but gives the caretaker and sponsor 30 days to rectify the issue prior to trapping being initiated. Is Petaluma's ban on ALL cats or just feral populations? If it is all cats, I'm not sure how you'd approach that but I'd look to some of the more progressive areas of Florida (I know Jacksonville has successfully promoted cats and they are probably most similar to your climate and share a number of issues with wildlife being affected by cats.)