Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 16, 1994 TAG: 9407210061
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ED KOHINKE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
First, my role in staff writer Jan Vertefeuille's July 2 news article (``It's time to fence in those felines'') was, in fact, contrived and perhaps even a bit ``silly.'' It was my idea to show up at the treasurer's office on July 1 for the sole purpose of highlighting ``C'' Day (the day the ordinance became effective) in an effort to remind county residents they now have to license their cats.
In the realm of local politics, ``contrived and silly'' is often the only way to get the media's attention, especially on a day that also featured Explore's grand opening!
Fred Anderson had even reserved the first unneutered cat license for me, but I forgot to tell him that our cat, Nitty, is spayed. Hence, while I purchased the first neutered cat license for the day on July 1, someone else had already purchased ``license No. 1'' for that category earlier in the week. The term ``license No. 1'' is just a figure of speech, anyway. The numbers started as large serial numbers (e.g., Nitty's is 2402), and I don't know (and don't care) what the rationale was for doing it that way.
Second, while there wasn't a paucity of coverage of this issue in the media, the discussion and debate phase for this ordinance was confusing at times, even, and perhaps especially, for those of us directly involved in it.
I'm the culprit who initially called for this ordinance. My goal: to give the staff a better tool with which to handle cat-nuisance complaints, many of which come from my district.
However, at one point I almost withdrew my support because of the license provision. My cat, like many other Roanoke County cats, is an indoor kitty. She's never been allowed to roam freely outdoors in the eight years since my wife and I ``bailed'' her out of the SPCA for $10. Also, she's spayed, declawed and vaccinated with everything with which a cat can be vaccinated. In fact, the only person who is ever bothered by Nitty is me (you know, fur balls, midnight yowling, and all the stuff cats do to be annoying at times), so why should I or any other indoor-cat owner have to get a license because others choose to let their cats run free and be a nuisance to others? And if you think your outdoor cat isn't a nuisance to someone else, just ask your neighbors how they really feel about it!
I voted ``yes'' because many cats are allowed to run loose and become nuisances, and it would be difficult to enforce such a law without also requiring licenses. The ordinance also restricts the number of cats per household, a key provision. And, in a progressive, urbanizing locality such as Roanoke County - contiguous as it is with two cities and a town, each with its own form of cat control - it makes good sense to have a law enabling us to take a comprehensive approach to animal control.
Finally, it was a mere coincidence that our Animal Control Department merged with the Police Department on July 1. This wasn't a provision of the cat ordinance itself, but rather a decision made by County Administrator Elmer Hodge in conjunction with his top assistant and the chief of police. It wasn't something we actually voted on in a board meeting, but I supported the move with the understanding that the level of service would get better.
Hence, when three of the four animal-control officers quit just before July 1, I made the statement that we would have better animal-control services - even if it means that Hodge et al. handle calls in the interim.
If Clemons or any of my other 16,000-plus employers call me, I'll gladly get out there and help out if it comes down to it!
Ed Kohinke of Salem serves as supervisor on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors for the Catawba District.
by CNB