Here kitty, kitty…

City council began the task of examining the large feral cat population in the city, a problem that has apparently become so great that residents are registering their complains at City Hall.
The rising cat population took off upon the closing of the Skeena Cel pulp mill and the decline of the local economy, which led to the exodus of a large share of the population at the time.

Apparently a good number of those leaving planned on taking just their memories and left behind the household pets. As nature took its course over the years that population boomed leading to the state of affairs of today that finds the local animal shelter bursting at the seams with unwanted cats and others just wandering the city looking for shelter and scraps to eat.

In addition to the Scattered Sylvester’s and Grungy looking Garfield’s, Dogs were also a topic of concern at council as numerous complaints of misbehaving dogs (and we assume dog owners) were registered with local councilors, leaving them looking for answers on the issue.
The Daily featured the purrcolating controversies in Thursday’s paper.

PRINCE RUPERT COUNCIL HEARS CONCERNS ABOUT FERAL CAT POPULATION
High numbers of feral cats, unruly dogs have council looking at options.
By Leanne Ritchie
Prince Rupert Daily News
July 12, 2007 Pages one and Three

Council is choking on a ball of complaints about dogs and cats in the city.

Coun. Joy Thorkelson has received numerous concerns about the feral cat population. The city has a huge population of feral cats, many of them not in the best of health, she noted.
“It's becoming an issue that is being questioned,” said Thorkelson.

With some people who have complained suggesting the feral population be spayed or neutered in order to reduce the future population, she recommended contacting the SPCA to find out what other communities have done.

Last week, Council also received a letter asking the city to look at limiting the number of cats that people can own.

Coun. Sheila Gordon-Payne said people have also been complaining about cats roaming into other people's yards and messing up their gardens.

She questioned whether the city could look at licensing cats and limiting the number of cats a resident could own.

Earlier this week, representatives from the Prince Rupert SPCA said they are working hard to keep up with demand after a massive population of unwanted cats in town has left the facility bursting at the seams.

Right now, the society has about 35 cats and 15 kittens and is short of space as well as dry cat and kitten food.

Coun. Ken Cote said the issue he has been hearing the most about has to do with people who own aggressive dogs.

“I've gotten two calls on the subject,” he said.

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond said there are communities that have taken steps beyond what the city has done.

“There is a gap around enforcement around dogs that are perceived to be dangerous,” said Pond.

RCMP and bylaw enforcement have done all they can to handle complaints about dogs and Pond said it is now in the city's hands to examine what can be done.

Other provinces and cities have taken action by banning certain breeds of dogs.

In 2005, under the Dog Owner’s Liability Act, Ontario became the first province to ban people from acquiring pit bull-type dogs. Kitchener and Winnipeg have also banned specific breeds. In Ontario, existing pit bull type animals must be neutered as well as leashed and muzzled in public, Violators face a maximum penalty of $10.,000.

“This is one great big collective ball,” said Pond asking for a report back to council on the range of options that exist for dog and cat control, both feral and domestic.

“We'd like to know where Prince Rupert is on that scale and maybe a recommendation as to if we are comfortable where we are at,” said Pond.