Brenda Meyer traps kittens and spends time taming them so that they can be then be fostered and eventually rehomed.
Photo / Supplied
Brenda Meyer traps kittens and spends time taming them so that they can be then be fostered and eventually rehomed.
Photo / Supplied
Affordable desexing and microchipping of cats rather than introducing specific by-laws should be the focus in Whangārei in order to control stray feline, cat lovers say.
The Whangārei District Council has released a Statement of Proposal (SOP) to amend the Animals' By-law, excluding dogs, for the purpose of protecting thepublic from nuisance and health and safety.
WDC is seeking feedback on the by-law as a whole, not just the amendments, and it includes cat management.
The SOP includes extensive analysis of the issues with cats experienced in the community, as well as regulatory and non-regulatory options to address the problems.
There is no national legislation that gives WDC the powers to regulate cat welfare, pest control or protection of wildlife from cats through a by-law.
"No changes relating to cats are currently proposed in the amended by-law, however options are considered as part of the by-law review and the possibility of some sort of by-law regulation is still within the scope of this consultation," the SOP says.
WDC is keen to hear public views on whether the by-law should specifically address cats, and if so, what should it say in that regard.
Whangārei Cat Rescue founder Samantha Emmerson said if low-cost desexing, microchipping and education programmes were available, they would curb the current issues of population control, pets fighting other pets, nuisance behaviour and health hazards caused by groupings of undesexed cats.
She said the desexing and microchipping of cats by four months was too expensive and may well also be ineffective, underpoliced and upsetting to families.
Emmerson said the costs outlined under the proposed options in SOP could be directed to a community programme, the SPCA, which received a large number of sick and injured cats and kittens, to fund desexing and microchipping.
"We don't think it necessary for the council to have management in place for cats in urban areas. Cats are self-sufficient and do not pose as great a public risk as dogs do, if the population is managed as a whole with desexing initiatives, and education on welfare, basic needs, keeping cats indoors at night, low cost pet insurance plans available, and so on."
Brenda Meyer said if WDC focused on desexing and microchipping cats rather than restricting what cat owners and cats could and could not do, it would help reduce the majority of complaints people have.
Have your say on whether the Animals' Bylaw in Whangārei should specifically address cats.
Photo / Supplied
Meyer traps kittens and spends time taming them, so that they can be then be fostered and eventually rehomed.
The high-school teacher feeds about 10 cats in an industrial area and has six young adult ones at home.
Meyer said setting by-laws about the number of cats per house, curfews, and cat-free areas were things that were impossible to police and control.
She is advocating for Trap Neuter Release (TNR)— a process used around the world that helps control the unwanted cat population and their undesirable elements.
"Lower the cost of desexing for all people in our community not just the low income/community card holders so people like me can afford to TNR and every household can afford to desex their cat."
According to WDC, there was a high level of community interest in relation to keeping cats.
Through the 2021 Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation process, WDC received 1,019 submissions in relation to nuisance caused by cats, public health issues and cat welfare concerns.
The council has already allocated $15,000 in Year 1 of the LTP to support microchipping initiatives for cats.
Most of the by-law as proposed in SOP is unchanged from the current by-law. The consultation relates to the proposed (amended) Animals By-law as a whole, not just the amendments.
The intention of the by-law is to supplement existing legislation in relation to animals rather than duplicate it.
Submitters can comment on any part of the proposed amended by-law, including any matter they consider should be included, but is not.
Submissions close on December 3 and hearing is scheduled for December 13.
WDC is expected to adopt the final by-law and amendments to existing by-laws by February next year.
More information on the SOP can be found at www.wdc.govt.nz/Whats-new/Have-your-say/Animals-Bylaw-2021.
