Nov 19, 2007 5:33 pm US/Eastern
Fines For Feeding Feral Cats May Be Dropped
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Feral cats don't socialize with people. (File)
Chelsea Zimmerman
Baltimore City may soon drop the fines imposed on people who care for feral cats.
As
Alex DeMetrick reports, if a proposed bill becomes law, it could make it easier on people and cats.
In Baltimore City, it's estimated there may be as many as 185,000 feral cats and last year, the city set out traps 1,800 times for nuisance complaints.
"When you look at the number of calls that come in for feral cats, it's costing the city a heck of a lot of money to run around and catch feral cats," said Animal Control director Bob Anderson.
Unlike domesticated cats, ferals do not socialize with people, making them unadoptable. Those caught are euthanized unless they cross paths with people like Brenda Shane. Back in 2000, Shane was caring for a feral cat colony in Hagerstown.
A feral cat bill looks favorable. Right now, there's a $100 fine for keeping a feral cat without a wild animal permit and a $100 fine for caring for one that becomes a public nuisance. The bill would eliminate fines for people who trap, neuter and release the cats, provided they continue to feed and care for them.
Baltimore's City Council is due to vote on the feral cat bill Monday.
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