Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 9, 1994 TAG: 9403090153
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
What the ordinance will include is unclear; the board sent the county legal staff back to hammer out another draft ordinance. What is clear is that it will be expensive and likely will limit the number of cats per household and require them to be licensed.
The feline code of behavior a county attorney presented at Tuesday's board meeting was too restrictive for some members of the board. The proposed ordinance - which would apply to dogs and cats - forbade whining, howling, crying, creating noxious or offensive odors and defecating in neighbors' yards unless an owner "promptly removes" said item.
Some supervisors, who said they were willing to restrict cats from roaming at large and to restrict the number of cats per household, were uncomfortable with the cost and the scope of the ordinance.
Hiring more animal control officers - there aren't enough even to handle the dog complaints now - and buying additional equipment could cost another $100,000 to $200,000 this year. The department now costs $176,000 a year.
County Administrator Elmer Hodge said he believes the county would need two additional officers, costing $207,000 in salary and start-up expenses.
"I don't want to spend the Roanoke County taxpayers' money that way," said Supervisor Harry Nickens. He would rather support a public education program to reduce the number of unfixed and unwanted cats.
But Supervisor Bob Johnson said citizens should be able to enjoy their property without being bothered by neighbors' cats.
"I believe we have to offer people the hope of redress for their problems," he said, because the county has no ordinance that can be enforced in the case of troublesome cats.
Other supervisors were in the middle, supporting various aspects of the proposed ordinance. County staff was less supportive.
"There's been an obvious lack of enthusiasm on the part of the staff," Chairman Lee Eddy said.
A public hearing will be held at the board's next meeting, in two weeks, and supervisors hope to come up with an ordinance then that will satisfy a majority of the board. Two residents spoke at Tuesday's meeting; Mori Cochener asked that only cat breeders be allowed to have fertile cats, to cut down the population.
The other talked about how difficult it already is to get hold of an animal control officer when he has problems with dogs.
"First we need to take care of the dog problem," he said, "then take care of the cats."
by CNB