Sixty-five cats have been registered since Dawson Creek passed a sweeping bylaw requiring cat licensing in late March, and the South Peace SPCA thinks that’s good progress towards curbing animal abuse.
“I’m really encouraged by the numbers we’re seeing,” said shelter manager Wendy Davies. “We’ve had really positive feedback from cat owners, they feel like their cats are being valued.”
The law requires cats be registered with the animal control agency just as dogs are. Anyone who has not done so faces a $125 fine. Passed on March 30, the bylaw also regulates hen and beehive ownership in city limits.
There were previously no regulations on cat ownership, while hens and bees could not legally be kept within city limits. Like many B.C. municipalities, Fort St. John does not have a cat bylaw.
The SPCA charges a fee to cover costs and encourage spay and neuter. The cost depends on whether the cat is “intact,” and whether it has permanent identification.
Cats with both procedures cost $5 to register, while those without are $200. The new rules also limit the number of cats a person can own to four.
Davies brought the idea of a bylaw forward in March, arguing the lack of cat regulation contributes to neglect and abuse. She said Dawson Creek has a large feral cat population because there are not enough incentives for owners to spay and neuter their animals. Those cats damage property when in heat, while kittens born in the wild often die young.
Davies said she’s seen two examples where cat owners opted to fix their animals when faced with a higher fee. More animals will be registered as regular vet visits come up, she suspects. Licenses can be purchased at the animal shelter, veterinarians and the pet store.
In the meantime, the shelter’s bylaw officer will be keeping a closer eye on cats.
“We’ll be out there enforcing cat registration the way we do dogs. So if we see a cat, we’re going to stop and talk to the owner,” she said.
She added that the city should have a better idea of how many cats live within its boundaries by the end of one year.
The SPCA has sold one hen license and no bee permits.
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