I have a neutered cat that is eight years old and has had the freedom to come and go as he pleases. He has been able to do the town and the residents of our neighbourhood a favour by catching a lot of unwanted rodents. By restricting as Council has decided to do, by having cats no longer being permitted to run at large, would not be to the towns benefit. I would rather have fives cats in the neighbourhood than one mouse in my house. Mice multiply at an alarming rate and before you know it you have a mouse epidemic on your hands, especially by the elevators.
There are people who do not like animals, be it dogs or cats. The latter are blamed for messing up their flower patch. I don’t think it’s as bad as they make it sound. Cats are very clean animals that bury their dung, but if you don’t like animals, which you have a right not to do, then don’t ridicule the person that does like them.
To put matters straight, I have been a farmer all of my life. I have worked with animals big and small and loved every minute of it. You learn to see and understand how animals are a benefit to man and nature. That is not just on the farm but also to a smaller degree, in town or city.
I have no objection to getting a licence for my cat or an I.D., but if he is to be restrained from going out and about, why should he be required to have an I.D.?
Being an older animal, I find it impossible to restrain him to the house. Then he can’t rid the neighbourhood of unwanted “Guests”. I hope that Council will as yet understand this. Only responsible pet owners care.
Case Hamoen
