An increasing stray cat population has continued to create a problem for Ironton residents and city officials are planning to take action.

Tuesday, July 25, 2000

An increasing stray cat population has continued to create a problem for Ironton residents and city officials are planning to take action.

Ironton City Council member Bob Vaughn said he will propose an amendment to the city’s codified animal ordinance that would more accurately define a nuisance animal during Thursday’s regularly scheduled council meeting.

The amendment, if passed, will establish guidelines for defining an animal causing a nuisance. It will call for tougher guidelines for pet owners who allow their animals to roam uncontrolled in the city and call for tougher penalities

"We have a real serious cat problem that needs attention," Vaughn said. "It’s a problem, really, around the state. An amendment to Ordinance 618 providing a detailed description of nuisance animals is a good place to start in controlling any animal that is running loose in the city and causing problems to residents. It will make the existing law stronger."

Vaughn said the number of cat complaints is continually on the rise, and he hopes an ordinanance will give the city the weapons it needs to keep stray cats under control.

"We need to start somewhere with the problem," he said. "Residents are always having a problem with a cat in their flower bed, yard, digging in trash or whatever else they may get into. I get phone calls daily on the matter and I think its about time to address the issue."

The idea of passing an amended cat ordinance that provides tougher penalties to residents who allow their pets to roam freely first originated in Kettering and has proved to be a success, he said.

"Kettering passed an ordinance several years ago that brought tougher penalties to anyone who maintained a pet, yet allowed it to roam freely in the city," Vaughn said. "The animal ordinance is working really well in Kettering. I think anyone who has control of an animal – feeding, maintaining, etc. – should take care of it responsibly. I don’t have anything against a cat or a dog, I just think people should take some responsibility and protect their animals."

The average cat living on the streets lives two to three years, yet a cat living in the confines of ones home will live 12 years or longer, he added.

"Cats are always a problem in the city and we receive hundreds of calls concerning them," said Robert Beasley, president of the Lawrence County Humane Society. "We would like to see an ordinance passed that helps protect animals. In fact, I think they should require a license for cats just like they do for dogs."

Passing an amendment to the current animal ordinance will aid with existing problems, however spaying or neutering animals may improve results, Beasley said.

"If animals were spayed or neutered before they were even obtained by owners, I don’t think populations would be so bad," he said. "Before we adopt an animal out, it is almost always spayed or neutered. In the last two years, we have spayed or neutered over 400 cats. I think it will be good to see the city make some kind of effort to help with the problem."