READY TO GO: This litter of kittens will be ready to leave their mother and Anderson Animal Services by March 5.
Cared-for neighbor cats on the loose are a huge problem in Anderson, Animal Control Officer Renee Canavan said. The person who lays out food for the cats but doesn't contain their activities create the city's most popular animal nuisance, Canavan added.
Complaints about cats to the APD include scratched cars, catfights, and spraying and defecating on property, she said. Some cats don't stray far from their feeders, but others will take over a whole neighborhood, "spreading hate and discontent," Canavan said.
She estimated about 100 to 500 cats in Anderson that nobody claims to own.
While a leash law could potentially take care of the problem, Canavan said enforcing such a rule would be expensive and time consuming.
Every year, the City of Anderson provides a number of $20 vouchers for residents to get their cats spayed or neutered so they don't give birth to more homeless cats.
Fewer dogs and cats entered the shelter at Anderson Police Deparment Animal Services in 2009 compared to previous years, according to Canavan. Most of that was due, she said, to more time spent in her role as a Community Services Officer, her other job at APD.
In 2009, 154 dogs and 185 cats entered the shelter compared to 206 dogs and 194 cats entering the shelter in 2008. While 73 of the 154 dogs taken in by the shelter were claimed by owners in 2009, only four of the 194 cats were claimed.
Canavan has worked for the APD since 1988. To contact APD Animal Services for animal adoption or registration, call 378-6624 and leave a message. The shelter is located at 2951 McMurry Drive in Anderson.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 1
KimW writes:
Perhaps the Planning Commission should propose that in order to own or feed a cat, the city should require a 120-square-foot cat house installed (weighted with gravel, no permanent foundation), $600; 84 feet of solid fencing with a locking gate not installed, $363.91; and a $100 registration fee from City of Anderson.
However, structures at 120-square and greater feet usually require permitting, and structures that require permitting require a concrete foundation. Other required expenses will include a security alarm, not necessarily monitored, odor filtration, as well as permit fees needed for construction.
Oh yeah. That's for cannabis. Sorry. ;-)
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.