It will be a dog's life for Prescott cats

New bylaw to require leashing, stooping-and-scooping for both types of pet

Town cat owners will have to license their pets and keep them leashed when off their properties under a new bylaw tentatively approved by town council this week.

Essentially, the new animal-control bylaw, which is scheduled for final approval in two weeks, treats cats the same as dogs, including poop-and-scoop rules.

Fines, which haven't been raised in years, would be doubled under the new law.

The fine for a cat or dog that runs at large will be $110, or double the existing $55 fine for a dog.

The owner of that free-running dog or cat also could be fined $110 if the pet is not licensed, or $110 if it is not wearing its tag.

And the leash law apparently would apply to the unofficial offleash areas where owners let dogs run free. Prescott doesn't have a dog run, but council members have it on their wish list of capital projects.

A dog or cat licence would cost $20 for the first year to cover the cost of the tag and $18 annually thereafter.

Meanwhile, Gananoque police are warning dog owners to be careful after receiving two reports of “suspicious” food left at various locations in the town.

“Currently, there are no signs of malicious intent,” Gananoque police added Tuesday morning.

Leeds County OPP launched an investigation earlier this month in response to reports of poisoned meatballs being found in Front of Yonge Township. It is also believed that a five-month-old puppy near Rockport in Leeds and the Thousand Islands died after eating poisoned food. OPP have yet to report a link between the two cases.

In Gananoque, town police are reminding pet owners of a municipal bylaw requiring pets to be on leashes and to be proactive while walking to prevent the animals from eating unknown food.

Police encourage the public to report suspicious activity in Gananoque by calling 613-382-4422. In municipalities served by the OPP, call 1-888-310-1122.