Should cats be licensed?
With a proposal going to Hamilton city council next Wednesday to make cat owners buy a licence for their pets, The Spectator hit the streets to ask 1) Should cats be licensed? and 2) Should the city re- peal the dog licence bylaw? Kerry Alldritt I do think yes is the answer. But it has to come with a microchip, because it would stop people from just abandoning cats. I do think we’re not responsible when it comes to cats.
Absolutely not. If you are going to have a dog, you need to be responsible. Responsibility comes with neutering it and certainly licensing it. So if anything happens to the dog — it is hit or hurt — you can be tracked down. Jake Smith Yes. I don’t like cats using my garden as a washroom. And I don’t know what could be in their droppings — my dogs will sniff around and as puppies, they will eat it.
No. Because I’ve seen what some people do to dogs, especially pit bulls who attract people who don’t take care of them properly. Having dog licences controls this. Tara Gibbs Yes. Because cats get out. It’s just a safety precaution. In my neighbourhood, I see three cats that on a daily basis are loose. I think if a dog needs a licence, so should cats.
No. But maybe the cost shouldn’t be as high as it is. It is necessary. It’s a way to be able to track the animals. If they get loose, this way we can find their way home. Otherwise they sit in the SPCA or animal control and that costs money. Tusia Kryzaniwsky Yes. I have to leash my dog when I take her out for a walk. Cats run freely in my neighbourhood. It’s not fair.
Yes. If you don’t have it for cats, you shouldn’t have it for dogs. Oliver Pereira Yes. All dogs are. I don’t really find a difference between cats and dogs when it comes to licensing, and in other cities, they have to be licensed. The longevity of cats is shortened when they’re not licensed. Outdoor cats don’t live as long and they cause more trouble.
No. It’s a good control of the number of dogs in a household. It’s also important for demographics on dog parks, how many are needed. Jan Tajzler No. In my case, I’m helping cats on the streets. Three, sometimes five. If you start licensing cats, people might get rid of them and release them. Last year, we discovered three little kittens in the bushes. How do we license those outside cats?
I don’t think so. I know what you mean — why dogs and not cats?
The difference is you don’t see dogs without their owners. Who pays for the dog parks? If it’s taxpayers, then there should be dog licences (required).