CyberKitten
June 28th, 2007, 01:08 PM
Halifax City Council has been debating (they spent more time on this than on the decision to forego the Commonwealth Games for example) whether to enact new cat laws - including permitting 3 cats per household (I have 4 but maybe there would be a clawback - pun very much intended). There would be a new building to house cats AND dogs that are picked up by whoever is responsible - there is no real plan proposed!
It is all in all a mess and here is tongue in cheek article in today's Halifax Herald:
Act II, Scene I: Cat-astrophe
By LORNA INNESS | 4:41 AM
Scene: A quiet street in one of HRM’s many suburbs. A car drives up and parks in front of a house. The car bears an emblem with the words "Cat Police" on its doors. The driver, wearing a uniform with a "Cat Official" badge on the jacket, gets out and walks up to the door and rings the bell. After a few moments, the householder opens the door.
Householder: "Good morning. What can I do for you?"
Cat Official: "Don’t try getting around me, I’m here on official business. It’s been reported that you have a cat on your premises. Is that so?"
H: "A cat? Why, whatever gave you that idea?"
CO: "We have our sources. Do you or don’t you?"
H: "A cat, hmm!" (Calls over his shoulder – "Honey, there’s a man here who wants to know if we have a cat. Have you seen Tibbles, I mean, have you seen one around?" Muffled noises in the background.) "She says she hasn’t seen one."
CO: "Well, you know it’s an offence to have one and if we see one around, we have the ability to seize it."
H: (To himself – "And get a faceful of claws in the process.") "Why, what did Tibbles, I mean, what did this cat you’re inquiring about do?"
CO: "Well, it didn’t need to do anything. It’s enough that it might be around."
H: "Well, that seems pretty extreme. I mean, what could a … Ouch, stop that."
CO: "What was that you said, sir? Were you talking to somebody in the house?"
H: "No, no, it was just a sudden cramp." (In a lower tone, while rubbing one calf): "Do that again and I’ll give you to the Cat Police." (Back to the official): "Well, if I see one, I’ll let you know."
CO: "Do that. We’re trying to keep our city free of anything that could possibly spoil its perfection." (Closes his notebook, snaps a salute, and goes back to his car and drives off.)
H (To himself): "Yes, and what about drug pushers, purse snatchers, people who beat up little old ladies, as well as a host of others who cause far more serious problems than cats – or dogs, for that matter?"
Think the foregoing is ridiculous? It’s about on par with the thinking that’s given rise to the proposed cat bylaw, not to mention the discussion that actually has put it on the agenda for a public meeting. However, since it seems to be getting serious consideration, and even though my fondness for cats is well-known, I would venture to toss out for consideration a few impartial thoughts.
The biggest cat problem here, or anywhere else, is that there are owners who lack common sense and do not realize that a pet is a living creature and that having one carries certain obligations, toward the animal and toward others who may be affected by it or its actions.
Legislation is not going to solve this and prevent abuse any more than it solves or prevents a variety of other problems, such as drunk driving. When it comes to some of these problems, even education has a hard time having any impact. Still, education is more likely to be effective than any "Cat Police."
Moreover, laws which are unenforceable, "more honoured in the breach than the observance" (to quote from Hamlet), only lead to public contempt for laws in general. Such laws, bylaws or other regulations breed ridicule which, in turn, reflects on the people who came up with the legislation in the first place.
It’s tempting to mess about with the lyrics of a 1970 pop song, One Toke Over the Line, from Brewer and Shipley’s Tarkio album, which turns up now and again on Oldies but Goodies programs:
"One cat over the line, sweet Mary,
One cat over the line.
Sittin’ downtown in a police station,
One cat over the line."
Lorna Inness is a former senior editor with The Chronicle Herald.
It is all in all a mess and here is tongue in cheek article in today's Halifax Herald:
Act II, Scene I: Cat-astrophe
By LORNA INNESS | 4:41 AM
Scene: A quiet street in one of HRM’s many suburbs. A car drives up and parks in front of a house. The car bears an emblem with the words "Cat Police" on its doors. The driver, wearing a uniform with a "Cat Official" badge on the jacket, gets out and walks up to the door and rings the bell. After a few moments, the householder opens the door.
Householder: "Good morning. What can I do for you?"
Cat Official: "Don’t try getting around me, I’m here on official business. It’s been reported that you have a cat on your premises. Is that so?"
H: "A cat? Why, whatever gave you that idea?"
CO: "We have our sources. Do you or don’t you?"
H: "A cat, hmm!" (Calls over his shoulder – "Honey, there’s a man here who wants to know if we have a cat. Have you seen Tibbles, I mean, have you seen one around?" Muffled noises in the background.) "She says she hasn’t seen one."
CO: "Well, you know it’s an offence to have one and if we see one around, we have the ability to seize it."
H: (To himself – "And get a faceful of claws in the process.") "Why, what did Tibbles, I mean, what did this cat you’re inquiring about do?"
CO: "Well, it didn’t need to do anything. It’s enough that it might be around."
H: "Well, that seems pretty extreme. I mean, what could a … Ouch, stop that."
CO: "What was that you said, sir? Were you talking to somebody in the house?"
H: "No, no, it was just a sudden cramp." (In a lower tone, while rubbing one calf): "Do that again and I’ll give you to the Cat Police." (Back to the official): "Well, if I see one, I’ll let you know."
CO: "Do that. We’re trying to keep our city free of anything that could possibly spoil its perfection." (Closes his notebook, snaps a salute, and goes back to his car and drives off.)
H (To himself): "Yes, and what about drug pushers, purse snatchers, people who beat up little old ladies, as well as a host of others who cause far more serious problems than cats – or dogs, for that matter?"
Think the foregoing is ridiculous? It’s about on par with the thinking that’s given rise to the proposed cat bylaw, not to mention the discussion that actually has put it on the agenda for a public meeting. However, since it seems to be getting serious consideration, and even though my fondness for cats is well-known, I would venture to toss out for consideration a few impartial thoughts.
The biggest cat problem here, or anywhere else, is that there are owners who lack common sense and do not realize that a pet is a living creature and that having one carries certain obligations, toward the animal and toward others who may be affected by it or its actions.
Legislation is not going to solve this and prevent abuse any more than it solves or prevents a variety of other problems, such as drunk driving. When it comes to some of these problems, even education has a hard time having any impact. Still, education is more likely to be effective than any "Cat Police."
Moreover, laws which are unenforceable, "more honoured in the breach than the observance" (to quote from Hamlet), only lead to public contempt for laws in general. Such laws, bylaws or other regulations breed ridicule which, in turn, reflects on the people who came up with the legislation in the first place.
It’s tempting to mess about with the lyrics of a 1970 pop song, One Toke Over the Line, from Brewer and Shipley’s Tarkio album, which turns up now and again on Oldies but Goodies programs:
"One cat over the line, sweet Mary,
One cat over the line.
Sittin’ downtown in a police station,
One cat over the line."
Lorna Inness is a former senior editor with The Chronicle Herald.