Editor: It is that time again, where LAPS is looking for dog licence canvassers.
Apparently, “licences are the best way to get lost dogs home and part of the revenue collected is retained by LAPS to care for animals in its shelter”.
I will start by saying I am a lover of all animals — dogs, cats, rabbits, whatever is in our community. I have a dog that is 12 years old. He is microchipped and his information is updated when a change is necessary.
We are responsible pet owners.
Our dog, in his 12 years, has never had a complaint, been off leash or out of control when off our property and has a fenced/contained yard.
We do have a constant problem with cats in our neighborhood.
They are at-large at all times, defecate and urinate on our property, they mate (including noise effects) at all hours of the night and we have had two litters born under our backyard deck.
I have had to remove the cats and litters myself as LAPS does not provide this service for cats.
If this was my dog, I would have had complaints and fines.
I have inquired as to why cats are not licensed and have been told that it has been brought to council more than once over the years and a bylaw has not been passed.
“The simple nature of cats makes enforcement difficult simply because of their anti-social nature.
Additionally, the City does not have the capacity within our existing resources to licence and enforce bylaws pertaining to cats.”
With the abundance of roaming neighborhood cats and feral cats in Langley, I would think hiring one or two employees to have cats licensed would bring in more than their salary financially with the number of cat licenses that would be purchased.
And just imagine the revenue that LAPS would receive from this bylaw.
I refuse to licence my dog and have been told that I will be fined hundreds of dollars until the license is purchased.
Maybe I should have my neighborhood cats take up a collection for my fines.
P. Shields,
Langley
