Seriously. Seriously?

Most of this blog will be dedicated to something I've proclaimed to be sick of - the animal control by-law. It's not over. It's not even close to being over!!!

Here are some of the "highlights" of this budget:

-cat owners will pay 10-30 dollars to register their cats of as April 1, 2008
- a shelter will be built, at a cost of 1.6 million dollars; the total cost of the by-law is 3.3 million
-no dog or cat can run at large
-excessive barking is defined as when it goes on for 20 minutes or more


I can tell you right now I'm not paying anything to register my cat! My cat is an indoor cat. If it got outside, it would be a fluke and if he was lost I would be devestated. However, why would I pay the money if, as of now, there is no shelter for him to be taken to for someone to call me to come pick him up? Maybe when the shelter is built I would register him, but it's just absolutely ridiculous! 3.3 million dollars for this by-law? As staff says, no money has been allotted to this and that will be part of the budget debate next year. As if there are some streets in Metro where residents foot the bill to pave their own street - and this by-law is going forward? Even the SPCA is shaking its head over this issue - saying there is not enough room at its facility to handle an influx of licenced cats. As for trapping cats - there are so many sickos out there, god knows what will happen to a poor cat if it's in the wrong hands of someone whose garden has been compromised. I don't even want to think about it. I actually said "hear hear" to myself reading Sue Uteck's comments today in the paper. Kudos to the 9 who voted against it including Sloan, Mayor Kelly, Uteck and Fougere. I felt a little bit relieved when I spoke to Tony Rodgers during the commercial break. I asked him (as a hunting expert) if he thought rats would start overrunning the city if feral cats were taken on the streets and he said no. So, we'll see.

Now, Will suggests council start working to make the by-law workable. I agree, great idea in theory. In practice, trying to get some of these councillors to look at the greater good instead of their personality conflicts is next to impossible. A lot of people, I think, will be sharing the opinion of Wade, who said after Rick asked him about it: "Hell will freeze over before I register them". Okay then!

Plus, this whole registering bikes thing? How much money needs to be raised to paint some lines on the roads? What else needs to be licenced? As Pat told me off the air - stuffed animals?

Scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, other than that everything is okay!

David Phillips will be in tomorrow to talk about the weather and his new calendar - a calendar which you have a chance to win!!! Listen to the Hotline for all the details tomorrow!!!!

Talk to you then,

Amber