
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, November 2, 1993                   TAG: 9311020129
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Short

IN VA. BEACH, YOU CAN CALL THEM `CAT TAGS'

The city put cat licenses on sale Monday in preparation for a Jan. 31 deadline to register all cats in Virginia Beach, although officials admit the rule will be almost impossible to enforce.

Most cities have required for years that owners get licenses for dogs.

But this year, Virginia Beach mandated licenses for cats as well. Similar laws are being considered in neighboring Norfolk and Chesapeake.

Officials estimate that only 20 percent of dogs in the city are licensed. The Animal Control Bureau generally does not find out about animals without licenses unless it gets a complaint or picks up a stray.

Sharon Adams, executive director of the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the enforcement difficulty shouldn't overshadow the importance of having the law.

She said the ordinance is designed to curb overpopulation.

- Associated Press

by CNB