Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 01/01) - Yellowknife cats will have this summer to roam free, unimpeded by the grasp of the city's municipal enforcement.

But come this fall, councillors could be discussing a cat bylaw. And if Monday's priorities, policies and budget committee was any indication, there is broad council support for the idea.

It's a common problem: roaming cats meowing at night, digging up gardens, scratching up fences and porches, even marking their territory on doors.

"The complaints are out there and I think we have to act on it," said Coun. Dave Ramsay, who put the bylaw discussion on the agenda.

The city currently requires dog licences, but has no bylaw requirements for cats.

Ramsay also wants the city to look into paying a full-time animal control officer.

After a brief discussion, committee told administration to come back with a review of the animal bylaw within six months.

Veterinarian Tom Pisz said a cat bylaw is an "excellent idea. We have a tremendous cat problem here, and nobody cares what's happening with stray cats," he said.

Pisz suggested the city mandate feline licensing, which could be done using a microchip, he said.

Microchips are permanently implanted between a cat's shoulders and can be linked with national databases that contain information about the cat's owner. A chip costs about $70.

Enforcement will be one of the issues confronting councillors later in the year.

"I'm sure we don't want to send the municipal enforcement division out there with nets and their cars," said Coun. Robert Hawkins.

Coun Alan Woytuik had a simpler suggestion: "12-gauge," he said in jest.

Cats have proven contentious for other municipalities.

In Edmonton, a cat bylaw proposed in 1998 provoked an onslaught of 5,000 phone calls.

Edmonton currently requires cat licences, and is discussing a bylaw that would allow citizens to catch cats and bring them to the pound.

Such an idea appeals to municipal enforcement manager Doug Gillard. Municipal enforcement officers currently spend between 10 to 20 per cent of their time rounding up about 350 stray dogs a year, he said.

"I (need) to have the tools to work with and the manpower to deal with it," he said. "I'd hate to see us not be able to focus as much attention on other things because we're busy dealing with this."