Question:
I've just finished reading your response to the person who inquired about how to rid their lawn of neighbors' cats in the Miami Herald. I'm hoping that you do not live or work in Miami-Dade County, because if you did you would know that the "local animal control authorities" do not support homeowners (or anyone else) who have a stray-cat problem, regardless of the "public health issue," nor do they have the legal right to trap outdoor cats at any time with or without notice. Quite frankly, the local animal control authorities can do nothing to help with cat problems.
J.T., Miami Beach, FL Dec 05, 2004
Answer:
Many municipal authorities have ordinances and various laws that can be enforced as needed when an animal problem in the community is reported. Since my newspaper column is syndicated nationwide, I do not cite which municipalities have laws on the books and which don't (pertaining to particular issues such as animal cruelty, cockfighting, dog fighting and free-roaming domestic animals) -- it's just not feasible.But, since Miami-Dade County evidently has no laws to address the feral and free-roaming cat problem, it is clearly time to mobilize your local legislators to initiate some so that the county animal control agency can do something and not have its hands tied in this matter.
Subscribe