THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 12, 1994 TAG: 9407120001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Probably the only thing more useless than attempting to herd cats is taxing them. The Norfolk City Council is today scheduled to consider a proposed ordinance requiring that owners provide evidence that their cat has been vaccinated against rabies and buy a city license certifying that fact for a fee: $2 for cats (and dogs) that have been spayed or neutered, $7 for cats (and dogs) that have not. As of Jan. 1, 1995, those fees for cats and dogs would rise to $5 and $10 respectively. (Kennel owners and breeders would get a special rate.)
Cats in Norfolk outnumber dogs an estimated 3 to 1. The purpose of licensing cats as well as dogs, city officials say, is to promote public safety two ways. First, by reducing the number of feral cats and second, reducing the risk of exposure of domesticated cats to rabies carried by wild animals, particularly raccoons, which frequent the same nocturnal haunts as cats.
Norfolk has not had an incidence of a rabid raccoon or cat. (Twenty-one raccoons, 2 foxes, 2 cats positive for rabies have been picked up so far this year in Virginia Beach and Accomack County.) But the percentage of owners who get their dogs licensed is sparse. Compliance by cat owners, notoriously resistant to licensing anyway, would be difficult to measure - and for those very reasons will likely be even lower than that for dogs.
Responsible pets owners have their cats vaccinated against rabies (and various other diseases as well) as a matter of course. Irresponsible owners won't bother. Charging a fee raises the cost of responsible pet ownership, especially for elderly or poor residents who appreciate the companionship of one or more pets.
And the $60,000 the city estimates it will raise in revenue from licensing cats and dogs each year (almost certainly an optimistic number) probably wouldn't even cover the costs of the licensing program. To pick up pets, subsidize the SPCA to care for them, to notify owners, etc., could come to $250,000 a year, according to the city manager's office.
A better idea, which Norfolk is pursuing, is to step up city efforts to pick up wild cats and, particularly, raccoons. However ``cute'' they seem, they spread disease and threaten pets. Neighborhoods where raccoons' numbers are exceeded only by their brazenness should call the city at 441-1776. Animal Protection will come out, trap the raccoons and release them in a rural area.
Ridding the city of varmints is the way to go, not tagging Tabby and taxing her owner. Health and safety are basic city services, and not ones that should cost citizens extra. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
by CNB