by PAUL RAYNER

If the Town of Boissevain gets its way, the community will not become one big litterbox.

Over recent weeks, controversy has once again sparked regarding the cat population in Boissevain. Numerous complaints have been made regarding the animals intrusion into private property and doing damage ranging from defecating in flowerbeds to killing songbirds. According to Boissevain Mayor Ed Anderson, the situation in town is due to a minority of animal owners.

“The vast majority of cat owners in Boissevain are considerate and responsible,” the mayor stated. “Unfortunately, there are people who don’t seem to care or properly maintain their pets. They seem to have no love for their animals or consideration for their neighbours.”

He said the problem comes from cat owners who allow their animals to roam freely around the town without any responsibility taken.

“Many pet owners are opening their doors and locking their cats out for the night. Then they are dropping feces and spraying in flower beds and gardens.”

The Town does have a by-law, Anderson said, which states that all pets, dogs or cats among them, must be controlled at all times in a fenced yard, kennel or run. If they are taken out, they must be on a leash.

They also have an animal control officer, who, if there is a complaint, traps the offending animal. They then go to a compound and take a trip to the veterinary office. Calls to neighbours are made to see who owns the cat, and if possible, the animal is returned and the owner is fined. There are difficulties with the fine process, however.

“We do have fines and penalties in place,” Anderson explained, “which work for the responsible cat owner. Unfortunately, a lot of these owners do not own taxable properties in Boissevain. This makes enforcement of fines almost impossible, as the only recourse if they are not paid is to put them on taxes.”

For the cat itself, a trip to the pound is not the possible end. If owners are not found, or do not want the animal returned, another home is found, this time in the country where they can be useful. Putting down animals is not an option, the mayor stated.

“We just catch them in the trap. We try to find homes for them. The vets feel it is their job to help the animals not take their lives. We don’t want to see these cats put down. That would be a travesty. Cats do get out occasionally and it would be a travesty to put down a family pet.”

He added that the Town has spent about $1800 on animal control this year, out of a $2000 budget.

“Apparently, there is a higher population of cats in Boissevain than we have had in the past. It goes in cycles.”

It is a situation that frustrates Lois Johnston. Her letter in the May 2^nd, 2009 issue of The Boissevain Recorder regarding the problem sparked others on the same theme. She has had feces and urine in her flowerbed, cats getting into her fishpond and a flowerpot knocked over. She thinks the cat or cats involved are tame not stray.

“I’ve seen people just let their cats out,” she said,  “which is something I totally do not agree with. I think it’s time people looked after their animals. The by-law should be adhered to. People are not taking responsibility for their animals. I’ve talked to people with cats who keep them inside or on a leash, but most seem to open their door and let them go.”

Johnston said she has spent close to $200 over the last year and a half on different solutions, including several doses of “critter ridder” in the flowerbeds, but nothing has worked. It is a long standing problem, with her having an aluminum door sprayed several years ago, and still smelling now when it’s humid. Frustration builds when dogs need to be tied up, but cats seem to be allowed to roam at will. As well, it hurts beautification efforts.

“They want the town beautiful, but why would you do it if you’re going to dig up feces?”

Johnston said she understood a possible need to have stray cats at the elevator to keep down rodent populations, but said domestic cats need to be kept under control.

“I hate to be the one who does this,” Johnston stated, “but there are so many people having problems and I think its getting worse.”

Anderson too said the areas around the elevator and the edges of town with grain fields surrounding them can benefit from the presence of cats, but is unsure how everything can be balanced.

One thing that would help, he said, was if there was a greater effort to spay or neuter the cats to keep the population down. This is the responsibility of the owner, although it is sometimes done when a cat is caught in a trap.

Also, he said, the Town might look at a better way to find good homes for the animals.

“Maybe we should be advertising to farm families to see if they want to adopt singles, mother cats with kittens, or mature cats,” Anderson stated. “We need to find good homes that will care for these cats. Maybe that is an option. I know of people who are looking for farm cats to control rodents. That is a good, safe place for them to go to be relocated.”

Like Johnston, Anderson feels the cats can have a negative impact on beautifying Boissevain. Although work can be done by the municipality, he knows where the real responsibility lies.

“I almost certainly agree it is not the responsibility of the property owner to keep cats out of their yard,” the mayor stated. “It is the responsibility of the cat owner to keep the cat in the yard. Please be considerate of your neighbours.”