Dear Editor,
Though Barrhead Animal Rescue has hit a few speed bumps as of late, we are slowly learning how to work with the municipality of Barrhead cooperatively. To effectively do so, it is clear we need to better understand the Town’s procedure and protocols regarding our desire to affect a truly democratic change of Animal Control bylaws within our community.
Hopefully, for one, we can all agree with the intent of newly amended bylaws, as “newly amended” animal control bylaws are desperately needed. It troubles me greatly that the Town Council would consider these particular bylaws good in their current state, having only completed a first reading of these just recently. Though I steadfastly try to have faith in our Town Officials and their capacity for good work, it is the incomplete attention to the plight of the actual animals in these bylaws that I am chiefly concerned about. There are countless articles in this bylaw requiring complete review and rephrasing for accuracy, to make them contemporary, and to make them relevant and meaningful to today’s citizens of Barrhead. At the very least, these should cease to represent a harsher time for animals to exist in, reflecting instead, a mature move into a more responsible attitude and position on animal welfare for our town.
If Council somehow choose to do nothing, because the bylaws are too challenging or contentious to address, it would be massively disappointing. However, that’s where BARS can come in. I am more than happily resigned to the fact that nothing worthwhile comes easily without a little elbow grease. We are here, we’re concerned, and we’re more than willing to help make a better and bigger picture regarding Animal Control in Barrhead.
We are anticipating the first public hearing for these proposed bylaws, as of Monday April 22nd, at 6:45 p.m. In the spirit of encouraging a democratic and socially accountable public hearing, it is my wish to remind the public of what BARS is offering to the Town Council, and thusly to the community itself.
It is our wish to offer solutions and a commitment to the community for a program that will licence (by way of tag and collar or microchip) all “owned” cats and dogs; support any limitations on the number of felines within a household with a grandfathering clause; support a bylaw regarding cats at large (identical to dogs at large) with a grandfathering clause; support the writing in and identification of felines into the bylaws; support necessary revisions for document accuracy, as well as fostering a contemporary outlook on Animal Control involving non-profit partners.
In addition to supporting the revision of these bylaws, BARS is committed to fundraising $15,000 in the first years, in order to support a trap spay/neuter release program for disowned animals, assisted by volunteers in the community. As well, BARS plans to develop a Barn Buddy Program where disowned cats from town will be spayed or neutered, receive a full vetting, and then be relocated to a cooperative farm partner at no charge. Lastly, we will remain an active animal adoption and fostering agency.
We encourage the support of both BARS members, interested supporters and interested members of the public to attend the public forum. This venue is meant to provide a voice to the people the Town operates to serve. The ability to voice concerns, ask questions and simply hold the Town accountable to the process of democracy should not be taken lightly.
Terry J Colborne
President
Barrhead Animal Rescue Society
