That’s because at Wednesday’s community development meeting, councilors voted in favor of a bylaw that would prohibit cat owners from letting their pets roam freely outdoors outside of their property. The motion was tabled by Ward 17 Don Valley North Coun. Shelley Carroll, who argues that it is safer for cats to be kept indoors or kept on a leash if they are outdoors.
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Scott Tinney, an animal justice attorney, is one of several advocates supporting the proposal. “Working in the realm of animal law, I hear about terrible things happening to animals,” she says. Story continues below ad “We just think it’s in the best interest of cats to keep them indoors. They live more indoors, they’re safer from coyote prey, they’re safer from possibly being hit by cars.” Nathalie Karvonen, a wildlife biologist and the executive director of the Toronto Wildlife Center, agrees, but for many other reasons. “Cats have a devastating impact on wildlife populations,” he told Global News. 2:04 Selwyn Borough Considers Cat Licensing Bylaw Selwyn Borough Considers Cat Licensing Bylaw – April 25, 2019 “There was an Environment Canada Study that was conducted where they looked at the mortality of songbirds across the country and the study concluded that the number one cause of death of songbirds in Canada was free-roaming cats.” Trending Stories
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But Toronto cat owner Linda Harnarine has been letting her two furry friends roam free for decades, and she disagrees with the proposed regulation. Story continues below ad “I love my cats to go outside. I’m happy they can go outside because they suffer from stress and it’s important for them to run and get fresh air and exercise,” she said. “It’s like putting a harness on a baby. I couldn’t do that.” Township staff have also expressed concerns about how the bylaw is being implemented. “I shouldn’t be flattered by it, and I understand that (the proposal) just passed by a whisker,” Mayor John Tory said. “I will not support it in the council. I just don’t believe we’re passing laws that we find impossible to enforce.” There are also concerns that the regulation could potentially burden animal shelters across the city. “I think it would put pressure on any animal welfare agency or organization,” said Phil Nichols, the Toronto Humane Society’s chief operating officer. “The other thing to keep in mind with enforcement is to make sure you’re not penalizing people who are already committed and facing financial struggles and other barriers because mistakes happen.” About 90 municipalities across the country and a handful in the Greater Toronto Area have enacted similar laws, including Newmarket, Markham and Hamilton. Story continues below ad Toronto’s outdoor cat ban proposal is expected to go before city council later this month. © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
