City decides against cat bylaw
The City of Meadow Lake will not introduce a proposed bylaw for cats at large, and will instead focus on education around responsible pet ownership and spaying/neutering programs.
After a request from the public to consider a new bylaw was made in April, council requested city administration look into the matter further. During her research, City Manager Diana Burton examined the bylaws other municipalities around the province use to keep animals off the streets. Meadow Lake currently is the only city in the province which does not have a bylaw for cats at large.
In meetings with the local volunteer-run humane society earlier this month, a major concern was raised: the potential for many of the cats impounded under the proposed bylaw to be surrendered to the shelter because the owners are reluctant to pay their fines. In a letter to council, Humane Society President Jillian Doucet said a cat bylaw would not be manageable for the local shelter as it is limited in both capacity and resources.
“In 2017 we took in 132 cats,” Doucet wrote. “Only seven of those were reclaimed by owners. Our suggestion is to encourage owners to be responsible, spay and neuter their cats, and keep their cats indoors.”