Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 8, 1993 TAG: 9301080113
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FRONT ROYAL LENGTH: Medium
CAT HATER PLANS FELINE LEASH LAW
A state legislator and admitted cat hater says he plans to introduce a bill that would allow localities to impose fines on people who let their cats wander without leashes."I hate cats," said Del. Andy Guest, a Front Royal Republican. "But that's not why I'm putting the bill in. This is the result of a legitimate request from a governing body."
The legislation to be introduced when the General Assembly convenes Wednesday would expand local laws that require residents to leash dogs. Cat owners would face fines of up to $100 if they didn't confine cats to their own property or have them on a leash.
"The problem is cats. Cats that mess in yards, dig in flower beds and climb up on vehicles," said Luray Mayor Ralph Dean, in a letter to Guest requesting the legislation.
Town officials have received complaints, Dean said.
He cited the example of a Luray resident who came before the Town Council "and showed his shirt that was covered with cat feces. He had been operating a weed-eater on his property. The weed-eater struck the mess and he was covered."
Many cat breeders agree that owners should keep their cats inside but feel the legislation would be impractical and impossible to enforce.
"If you walk outside and a bird [defecates] in your lawn, you don't pass a law to control the birds," said W.T. Myers, a Mount Jackson resident who shows household cats. "Who's going to be responsible for enforcing these laws?"
Unlike dogs, cats cannot be kept in their own yards with fences, Myers said. "It's going to mean slaughter to a lot of cats because their owners won't keep them inside," he said.
But Janet Stombock, a Luray resident who also breeds cats, said she agrees with the proposed legislation. "You have to respect other people's property," she said.
In addition, animal wardens aren't enthused about the idea of chasing after cats.
"It would certainly take more staff than I have now to enforce it," said Warren County Animal Warden Alex Smoot. "It's easy to get together in a group and pass a law, but you have to enforce it and how are you going to pay for it?"
But Guest said he thinks the proposed law is tame.
"If I really give full vent to my feelings on the subject, we could outlaw the purchase of cats or have a five-day waiting period and limit the purchase to one cat per month," he said. "Or we could have extra penalties for committing a felony in the presence of a cat."