Cat Registration Plan Hissed Down

Speaking before the house and municipal government committee, State Senator Sheila Roberge minced few words.

"Cat people do not pay their fair share."

That could change if the house passes a senate plan requiring cat owners pay a ten dollar per cat fee every three years to help fund the state?s animal population control program?..Since beginning the program in 1992, New Hampshire?s rate of animal enthanasia has dropped 75 percent to a national low.?.But even so the program lacks funding?..and goes on a forced hiatus for several months per year?..At present all of it?s funding comes from dog owners. They pay two dollars a year per pet. Even though cat?s and not dogs are the program?s prime beneficiaries. Representative David Babson says he doesn?t care for cats, and says their free ride needs to stop.

"I?m not exactly a cat lover and to have the cats use this program three to one and not pay a cent?.This is a matter of fairness."

But achieving what the bill sponsor?s call cat parity is easier said than done. The biggest challenge is adminstation and enforcement of pet regulation. ?..That responsiability now fall to municipalities?..According to Carol Derosher, Swanzey town clerk and president of the New Hampshire town clerk association, that?s simply too much to handle.

"Don?t put the burden on the clerks?We are doing part of it with the liscensing of dongs?And I just don?t? think we can take on the burden of the liscencing of cats as well it?s quite a burden."

But concerns aren?t limited to small towns, government representatives from Manchester and Nashua also said the bill would pose overwhelming problems. Brian Christianson of the Nashua Mayor?s office says it would cost his city thousands.

"We have by our best guestimate approximatelt 21,000 cats in Nashua. Just sending out 21,000 notices would force us to increase out postal budget by 100 percent. That?s the admin side of it. The enforcement side of it?..our animal control officer has a hard enough time keeping up with the dogs?We don?t have the manpower the animal control officer doesn?t have enough time in the day for it."

Animal control workers in attendace seemed to agree.

"Cats are a different species"

That's Russell Pope animal control officer and spokesman for dog owners of the granite state?.

"Dogs generally are closer to the home than the cat?.as an animal control or law enforcement officer I might go knoking on someone?s door to question them about cat lisenseure. And their cat might be ten miles down the road and they haven?t seen it for six month?s how do I prove they own a cat."

And Pope also points out that state statutes on pet ownership are broad.

"RSA 436 :99 #4 Owner shall mean any person keeping, harboring , having charge or control of or permitting any dog cat or ferret to habitually be on or remain on or be lodged or fed withibn such person?s hous yard or premises."

That means even feeding the odd stray would make someone a scofflaw if the legislation passes?Senator Katie Wheeler heads the legislature?s animal control subcommittee. She says cat issues are always complicated, and always arouse passion.

"It?s just amazing to me the gut raction people have when we say were going to do something about cats. It?s as thoug we couln?nt possible deal with it. I know we can?I know we can have cat owners pay this over population fee. But my feeling is right now it?s not going to happen this year."

Wheeler says if this bill dies this year, she will submit a reworked proposal in the next legislative session.