Stray cats stir angry protest in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD – During Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, it wasn’t the $3.7 million budget package that drew public outcry. That proposal passed unanimously without a peep from the audience or discussion by councilors.

Instead it was Persians, Siamese, tabbies and Maine coon cats that got all the attention.

A dozen angry, frustrated residents crammed the tiny conference room where the council’s ordinance committee met to weigh adding an article regarding stray cats to the town’s regulations.

“I’ve absolutely had it,” said Kathy Frost.

“It has become a health issue,” said her husband, Roland Frost.

“I’ve lived in my house [on Summer Street] for 45 years,” said Erlene Frost. “I never thought it would come to this.” She said that a sandbox in her back yard for her grandchildren “has become a litter box,” and a plastic cover she used to protect it from the cats was shredded “so they could get to the dirt.”

“I’ve had $100 worth of flowers dug up and ruined,” said Mary Walker.

Even committee Chairman Michael Gray admitted that an unwanted stray cat was living under his tool shed.

“It shouldn’t have to come to this,” said Gray. “But we have a large number of irresponsible cat owners out there.”

The amendment that was discussed, and later set for public hearing by the Town Council, would treat roaming cats the same as stray dogs. They would be subject to seizure by police or the animal control officers and hefty fines would be required before an owner could reclaim them.

The new proposal would give the town’s animal control officer the authority to seize a stray cat and take it to the town’s shelter. The major component of the change is that a stray cat is defined as “a cat on the premises of a person other than the owner of the cat, without the consent of the owner or occupant of the premises, on a public street or other public property, except under the physical control of the owner.”

The proposal also sets an impound fee of $35 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense, and $75 for the third offense, a fee schedule also proposed for dogs roaming at large.

Those at the meeting accepted the amendment as the best the council could do for now, but quickly expressed their desire for something with more bite. One suggestion, which Police Chief Steven Emery said he would research, would be to require anyone owning more than four or five cats to obtain a kennel or shelter license, similar to that now required of dog owners.

By requiring people who own large numbers of cats to take out a license and pay for the required liability insurance, the regulation could cut down on the large numbers of problem cats.

In other business, the council also signed a 10-year renewal lease agreement with Curtis Air and ratified the Pittsfield Police Association’s union contract for 2003-2005.

The council also closed a number of end-of-the-year bookkeeping matters, including funds transfers to balance overdrawn accounts, and committee and board appointments.