[RP TownTalk] Rockville introduces revised animal ordinance that would address feral cat problems

[Jason]

Interesting article maybe our local governments will look in to this it's another example that TNR works! 

 
Rockville residents will have a chance to weigh in on proposed changes to the city’s laws to regulate certain types of animals and try to control the city’s feral cat population.

A public hearing on the ordinance, introduced Monday night by Councilwoman Julie Palakovich Carr, is scheduled for Feb. 9.

Palakovich Carr said she met with the city’s Animal Matters Board, Environment Committee and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board to discuss the ordinance. She also said she received emails and letters from residents.

About 50 people attended a community meeting in October to discuss the potential changes, she said.

The ordinance would require residents to get licenses for cats and ferrets older than 4 months, in addition to dogs, which already are required to be licensed.

It also would allow animal rescue organizations, caregivers and the city’s Animal Control unit to trap feral cats, spay or neuter them at the organization’s expense, provide a rabies vaccination and release the cat to roam. The change is aimed at ultimately reducing the city’s feral cat population.

Palakovich Carr said the current policy of trapping and removing feral cats hasn’t been effective in reducing the city’s population.

The ordinance would provide specifics on the weight, length and types of tethers used to secure animals, as well as requiring that outdoor shelters be weatherproof, constructed of fiberglass, solid wood or other weather-resistant materials and be large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around inside the shelter, as well as have an overhang.

The ordinance also would allow residents to keep up to five hens in backyard coops at single-family homes in the city. Roosters would be prohibited.

Chickens would have to be kept in predator-proof coops at least 5 feet from the owner’s property line and 40 feet from any home on an adjacent lot.

Other types of livestock would be allowed under certain conditions.

Chickens could be kept by laboratories for research, as well as by schools and day care facilities for educational purposes for up to 15 days.

Livestock, except roosters and hoofed livestock, would be allowed on residential lots for an educational program for up to 15 days.

Goats would be allowed on city property to eat invasive or otherwise undesirable plants, although Palakovich Carr emphasized that the city would bring in goats from an outside contractor rather than maintain its own herd.

rmarshall at gazette.net


http://m.gazette.net/article/20150113/NEWS/150119799/1022/rockville-introduces-revised-animal-control-ordinance&template=gazette

Jason
301-943-3017
😻🙀😽😼🐱🐯🐈
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