Growing stray cat population raises concern

The effect of the city of Calipatria not funding an animal control department this fiscal year has reportedly become apparent.

During the Calipatria City Council meeting Monday, Councilwoman Sylvia R. Chavez said she was concerned about the number of stray animals roaming the city’s streets.

“I would like to see us reconsider a contract with Imperial County Animal Control to get this stray animal population under control,” she said.

The councilwoman said she felt the matter should be brought up during the city’s upcoming budget workshop scheduled for May 25.

“As far as the animal control department, I mean, that would be great,” Mayor Pro Tem Javier Amezcua answered. “We still don’t have a budget.

Maybe when we get to that budget workshop, we can find some monies to get that going. But, at this time, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

Amezcua said he is making an independent effort toward controlling the stray cat population, adding he was inspired to do so by Calipatria resident Lucia Valenzuela.

Valenzuela, who lives in the apartments on International Boulevard, has taken it upon herself to buy two traps for cats.

“She’s trapping the cats, getting them taken care of,” Amezcua said of Valenzuela. “So I’m going to go out and I’m going to actually buy some, too.

I think I’m looking at four traps right now — maybe more in the future.”

He said he’d start employing the traps around his home and cul-de-sac, and begin expanding the range from there to help get the animals under control.

“And I’m not telling anybody to go and trap dogs or whatever, but I am going to do that with cats and we’re going to start taking care of that problem real quick,” he said.