Print
Nov 9, 2008 11:47 pm US/Eastern
New Regulations Will Save Strays
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
-
-
New regulations could cut down on the number of stray cats roaming around in your neighborhood.
CBS
New regulations could cut down on the number of stray cats roaming around in your neighborhood.
Jessica Kartalija reports it could also give dangerous dogs a second chance.
New city regulations could give dangerous dogs a reprieve.
"In the past, the law required that they either deem the animal vicious or not vicious and so that meant if it was deemed vicious, the animal had to be euthanized," said Olivia Farrow, the assistant commissioner of environmental health.
Farrow says under new regulations, a dog is determined to be vicious or dangerous. A dangerous dog can be returned home.
"The board now has the option to issue corrective measures that can include behavior training for the animal, additional enclosures in a backyard, additional restraints," Farrow said.
As for cats, Animal Control estimates there are 185,000 felines in Baltimore City. Last November, Mayor Sheila Dixon signed into law a trap-neuter-return program. Stray cats are caught, spayed or neutered, then vaccinated before being released.
"In the past, we used to trap these animals and euthanize them, but then populations would regrow to original numbers and so this way, the colony could remain stable," Farrow said.
The public can see and comment on the regulations on the City Health Department website. The Health Department is taking your comments on this proposal until Dec. 8.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WJZ.COM's Most Popular Slideshows
