THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 4, 1994 TAG: 9408040010
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
The SPCA's Kathryn P. King (letter, July 21) argues that rabies is a major feline health crisis, solvable only by licensing cats. In fact, licensing is a nuisance that the city says may generate $33,000 to $60,000 annually.
If the intent is to ensure rabies control and encourage neutering, why will Norfolk make a profit? Those on fixed incomes were ignored. Why saddle cat owners with another expense and make them waste time looking for a hardware store that sells licenses?
Licensing has no affect on abandoned cats; they will still breed.
Licensing fanatics would have us believe that rabid animals are advancing on the Berkeley Bridge; they aren't.
As Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Charlotte demonstrate, most cat owners vaccinate their pet either at the vet or at free clinics for those who can't pay. Owners get a tag with an ID number and the vet's address and phone number, so the cat's shot history is quickly available. Since the private sector provides tags that work very well, why is the city adding a needless ordinance that requires money and time to comply with, and produces no benefit, except to the city treasury?
This silly annual fee discourages the poor and the elderly from adopting SPCA animals. The SPCA already requires that adopted cats be neutered. Anyone who thinks that those few who allow their pets to breed uncontrolled will change their behavior because of the license is deluded. Responsible cat owners will fill the city's coffers with more money simply for the joy of owning a feline.
Most laughable is the promise of the police to vigorously enforce the law, given the failure to enforce dog-defecation rules in parks.
The image of Norfolk's finest jumping fences and climbing trees to apprehend cats is amusing. So now we'll waste police assets on a truly victimless crime and tie up the courts prosecuting poor cat owners. City Council should give us a break from needless laws.
MICHAEL SHUMAKER
Norfolk, July 30, 1994 by CNB