Dear Editor,
Further to our letter to the Editor that ran on the week of April 2nd, Barrhead Animal Rescue wishes to keep the public of Barrhead informed of our continuing progress towards the matter of the proposed bylaws for animal control and ownership within the town municipality. The BARS committee continues to meet regularly to review the current bylaws, and have reached out to several members of Town Council, and the Chief Administrative Officer, Martin Taylor, to name a few.
Our ongoing intent is to build and enhance a spirit of cooperation between all concerned decision-makers, citizens and animal owners. Our wish is to prevent a vague and misleading dialogue regarding animal control and ownership bylaws from continuing in this municipality. If left unaltered, these bylaws will remain inaccurate, dated, and unhelpful to those they pertain to—specifically animal owners in town.
One issue of concern in the current bylaws, is a bylaw meant to place limitations on the number of felines allowed in a house hold (as proposed, it is only two). After a prolonged history of no bylaws even existing for felines, the proposed bylaw would put a lot of pressure and heartache on certain citizens in our community. At BARS, we feel it is imperative Council understands these concerns and allow for a “grandfathering clause” for citizens currently having more than two cats. As well, Council would need to provide the appropriate time and administrative effort necessary to support this clause and any persons possessing more than the proposed number of cats.
Another proposed item in addendum to a “grandfather clause” would be a requirement for microchip identification for any cats qualifying under this clause. This would eliminate any mistakes in identification, as well as legitimizing said cat. BARS is currently working on an affordable microchip program to assist in this alternative. Microchips can also be used as an alternative to the more dangerous method of collaring and tagging of cats. With contemporary and improved methods of animal control, people might be more willing to come forward to protect their animals through licensing. Licensing would actually become meaningful, serving animal owners who are concerned for or have lost their animals. The alternative to not changing this particular bylaw, is simply that nothing will change— floods of cats will hit the streets in Barrhead (more so than they already do), continuing to add to the current population explosion.
We believe positively that our “Initiative” program would make a significant difference within our community—a difference that we could all be proud of. This is not intended to be a quick fix, and will take a lot of hard work, but over time, the results would be exponentially evident. This program would also eventually impact the population of stray and feral cats in our community, through volunteer means of trapping, and spay/neuter release. These cats would also undergo a complete vaccination protocol similar to our adopted felines, but be identified through unique microchips differing from those of ‘owned’ cats. The goal is that this program would be headed by the Barrhead Animal Rescue Society, and supported by the Barrhead Town Council through the ordinance of “authorized persons” within the Animal Control Bylaws.
Sadly, far too many rural towns have not yet reached the level of understanding, compassion and patience it requires to take the steps we now ask the Town Council and Community of Barrhead to consider. We believe strongly that the people of Barrhead (as they’ve already demonstrated in various often unrecognized ways) do wish to be known as leaders in humanitarian efforts, and do wish to be viewed as contemporary in their viewpoints towards animal control and ownership. Thus far, we are very pleased with the feedback and support for this program that we have received. We continue to accept donations, as well as applications for interested volunteers.
Terry J Colborne President Barrhead Animal Rescue Society
