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COPY
The Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford
By-law Number 030 - 2014
Being a by-law to amend By-law 078-2013, a by-law to
Control Dogs and Govern the Care of Animals within the
Municipality of Meaford, with regard to cats.
Whereas by Section 5(3) of the Municipal Act 5.0. 2001, C.25 as amended
provides that powers of every Council are to be exercised by By-law unless
specifically authorized to do otherwise; and
Whereas, Section 9 of the Municipal Act, 2001, 5.0. 2001, c.25 provides
that Section 8 and Section 11 shall be interpreted broadly so as to confer
broad authority on Municipalities to (a) enable Municipality to govern their
affairs as they consider appropriate and , (b) enhance their ability to
responds to municipal issues; and
Whereas, Section 11 of the Municipal Act, R.5.0. 2001, c. 25 provided that
a lower-tier municipality may pass By-laws respecting matters within the
spheres of jurisdiction set out therein; and
Whereas, Section 103 of the Municipal Act, 2001, 5.0 2001, c. 25
authorizes a municipality to seize and impound an animal at large or
trespassing, the sale of an impounded animal, and the establishment of a
voluntary payment of penalties out of court where it is alleged that the By
law respecting animals being at large or trespassing has been contravened;
and
Whereas, there is a desire to establish a program to aid in the control of
feral cats in the Municipality of Meaford; and
Whereas, the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford
deems it expedient and necessary to amend By-law 078-2013 with respect
to cats;
The Council of The Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford enacts
as follows:
That By-law 078-2013, a by-law to Control Dogs and Govern the Care of
Animals within the Municipality of Meaford is hereby amended to address
cats:
By-law 030-2014
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1.
Insert the following definitions under section 1 DEFINITIONS:
1.2.1 "Cat Control Officer" means the Municipal Law Enforcement
Officer and their designate who have been duly appointed as a
Cat Control Officer by Council.
1.4.1 "Feral
Cat" means any cat that is not socialized who, in
general, receive little human contact or care and lives outdoors
or is unconfined at all times.
2.
Delete the definition of "cat" under Section 1. DEFINITIONS and
replace with the following definition:
1.1
"Cat"
means a household and/or domesticated cat (Felis
silvestris catus).
3.
Insert the following provisions under Section 6.
SEIZING AND
IMPOUNDING:
6.8
Where the Poundkeeper or Cat Control Officer discovers a feral
cat, the Poundkeeper or Cat Control Officer may capture the said
cat by way of trapping, or other humane means, and may
sterilize, vaccinate and, following post operative care, return the
feral cat to the same environment from which the feral cat was
captured or, in the instance where the Poundkeeper or Cat
Control Officer is not satisfied that the same environment is safe
for the feral cat, provide a safe environment.
6.9
Where the Poundkeeper or Cat Control Officer by way of
capturing the feral cat, may place a cat in the same environment
from which the cat was captured or may transport the cat to the
owner's residence through the identification of the cat and if
owner is not home they may release the cat on the property of
the owner.
4.
Insert the following provisions under Section 8. CARE OF ANIMALS:
8.12 It shall be the owner's responsibility to identify any cat so as to
assist in distinguishing a cat at large from a feral cat.
8.13 The owner of a cat shall ensure that the cat is not running at
large.
By-law 030-2014
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8.14 A Cat Control Officer under the direction of a Veterinarian, or a
Veterinarian, may take immediate action to humanely address
any sick or injured cat found within the Municipality where, in
their opinion immediate euthanasia of the cat is necessary to
avoid unnecessary suffering by the animal.
5.
In the event of any conflict between any provisions of this by-law and
any other by-law hereto are passed; the provisions of this by-law shall
prevail.
6.
This by-law shall come into force and take effect upon being passed by
Council.
Read a first, second and third time and finally passed this 24th day
of March, 2014.
, Clerk
By-law 030-2014
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