Lacombe city council is in the middle of tightening up their animal control bylaws.

The new rules they are hoping to put in place would help keep them with their owners and out of impound.  

The city would be encouraging residents to register their cats with the city for a small fee. Introducing a cat license program is new to the city but would ensure that the furry friends can be returned home safely if lost.

Diane Piche, Director of Corporate Services says right now with the cat population in Lacombe sometimes they are getting into trouble.

“Sometimes cats are in somebody’s yard, or does their business in someone’s flower bed all the time or becomes a nuisance to the neighbours by digging up things and such.”

Piche says if the animal is spayed and neutered it could cost around fifteen dollars for a lifetime, and adds they didn’t want it to become revenue driven plan but one that provides a mutual benefit to both residents and bylaw officers.

Council gave first and second reading to the Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw, which would include all animal bylaws, including those governing livestock, urban hens and bees as well.

“We don’t want it to be a real burden on the citizens because we really want to be able to get the animals back in the event that they go out in their yard,” explains Piche.

It seems as though it would be a good idea, considering only 4% of cats that were impounded in 2018 were returned to their homes.

“If they get lost or somebody has it sitting on their doorstep and someone calls bylaw, they need to know where to get the animal to.”

There were eighteen animal-related violations in 2018.  

Four violations were for cat nuisances and fourteen were dog related.