cat licensing spay/neuter plan Carthage MO

Plan would encourage pet owners to spay, neuter cats
Carthage Press, Missouri - July 18, 2006
[Excerpted]
A two-tiered licensing program for cats could go into effect under a proposal made Monday by a council member.

Councilmember Bill Welch suggested to the Public Safety Committee a $5 license fee for cats but no charge if the cats are spayed or neutered. Currently, there is no charge for a license if the owner can show a current rabies shot.

“The bigger issue is the shots,” said Police Chief Dennis Veach. “There's certainly an advantage to getting as many as you can tagged.

“Free has a good sound to it. We don't want to make the cost too big that they wouldn't do it.

“No doubt we don't get the tagging of cats like we do with dogs. It's a problem.”

“It's a big problem,” said Chair Mike Harris.

Whereas dogs must be fenced or confined, there is no ordinance regulating cats at large.

“The other thing with cats is no one claims ownership for them,” Harris said.

Harris recommended sending the matter to the Budget, Ways and Means Committee to work on figures and the committee concurred. Welch said the city made $2,574 in revenue for 1,287 dog licenses in 2005.

Welch said the reason many cats weren't licensed was because the costs of shots.

“It's a little known thing that you can do it yourself by getting everything but rabies at Farm and Home,” Harris said.