Council monitoring stray cat problem
Lindsey Kuglin A representative of the Grey Bruce branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals doesn't think Brockton council's decision to suspend animal control is the cat's meow.

Ontario SPCA Agent Jennifer Bluhm said at the April 28 council meeting that Brockton had the most comprehensive animal control bylaws in Bruce and Grey Counties.

"You were one of six municipalities in Grey-Bruce that included cats in the animal control bylaw," she told council.

Brockton's bylaw officer, Rick Parker picked up 95 cats last year, and Bluhm projected that if that same number were projected to 2010, there would be 3,000 feral cats at large.

"If there's no bylaw, they don't get picked up, and if animal control doesn't pick them up, they remain in the area," Bluhm said.

She said that cat control is a public health and safety service.

"More than half the number of rabies cases come from cats," she said.

She said that if someone were to call the OPP if there was a cat acting strangely on their property, the cost would "pale in comparison" to having a bylaw officer deal with it.

Bluhm told council that they receive more calls from frustrated residents for a stray cat messing in their garden, or having litters in their sheds than they do for barking dogs.

Coun. Charlie Reidl said that a large part of the problem comes from residents feeding, or making food available to the cats.

He warned that if residents are feeding the cats, they may be found responsible for the cat, for which a licence needs to be purchased, and they could be charged for letting the cat wander.

Brockton council decided in February to suspend the animal control bylaw for a 12-month trial period, in a move to cut costs during budget diliberations. Officials estimate the move could save $11,000.

"We're monitoring it on a month-to-month basis," Coun. Dan Gieruszak said.

Mayor Charlie Bagnato said that he hasn't noticed problems with cats in other municipalities that don't have an animal control bylaw.

"When I drive around... I don't see hundreds of thousands of cats," he said, adding that strays will continue to be monitored, and if there's a dramatic increase, it will be addressed. "It could be two years, it could be three months. If there's a problem, we'll hold an emergency public meeting. I think we'll just keep monitoring it," he said.