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Waconia considers leash regulation for cats
Waconia officers are contemplating a citywide ordinance that will require cat house owners to maintain them on leashes – much like restrictions on dogs.
WACONIA, Minn. (FOX 9) – On the shores of Lake Waconia, there are many individuals taking their dogs out for a walk.
But quickly, their canine companions is not going to be the one home pets required to be on a leash when they’re off their proprietor’s property.
“I’m for it. I’m not actually a cat lover however I do not see a ton of cats roaming round,” mentioned Waconia resident Tina Fortwengler.
On Monday night time, the Waconia City Council amended an ordinance that regulates dogs to incorporate cats as effectively.
Cat house owners will now be obligated to leash their animals when they’re out in public, include them to their property with a fence or leash and clear up any pet waste their feline mates go away in parks or another person’s yard.
“We’re simply responding to considerations residents have. It appears pretty frequent sense for house owners to maintain and preserve their animals in a secure method and never disturb others. To us, it is simply frequent sense,” mentioned Waconia City Administrator Shane Finerman.
City officers say the change is geared toward cat house owners who enable their pets to roam freely round their neighborhoods.
Officials say different communities within the space have comparable cat leash legal guidelines.
“We need animal house owners to be accountable and the expectation is that they’re accountable. To not allow them to roam freely or disturb the neighbors or different animals inside the neighborhood. So that is what it hopefully will accomplish,” mentioned Finerman.
Residents we talked to appeared to be in favor of the change.
“I believe it is most likely a good suggestion for the cat’s sake and for different individuals who would possibly come throughout the cat,” mentioned Waconia resident Jeff Schultz.
“Yes. If you’ll have them, I believe they need to be underneath the identical legal guidelines as different pets,” mentioned Fortwengler.
Cats will even be required to have one thing like a collar or microchip that can be utilized to simply establish them.
The modified ordinance will take impact as soon as it is printed, probably subsequent week.
