Animal control officer says it's raining cats, dogs

The mayor hopes to present a plan to council next week.
By TIM YOVICH
Vindicator Trumbull Staff
NILES -- The number of cats and dogs in Niles is out of control, the city's animal control officer says.
"We're overpopulated. I've been busy," Mark Morrall, part-time animal control officer since May, said Friday.
Because of the problem, Morrall has been working on some ideas with Mayor Ralph A. Infante to reduce the number of animals running loose.
Morrall said one approach is to work with area veterinarians to lower the cost to spay and neuter pets.
The procedures aren't cheap.
One area veterinary clinic said the cost to spay a female cat is $200, while it costs about $130 to neuter a male cat.
"If people did that, it would solve most of the problem," Morrall said.
Infante said another approach may be to increase fines for those who let their pets run loose or don't care for them.
The mayor said he is hoping to have a program put together next week and present it to council's safety committee.
One reason for the large number of cats and dogs running loose is because of the increase in rental properties.
Pets left behind
When some renters move out, they leave the animals behind rather than taking them to Angels for Animals, Cats are People Too or Trumbull County Animal Welfare League.
Although part time, Morrall is on-call round-the-clock. But he responds to complaints on his days off only if they involve a bite or vicious dog.
For example, he handled two calls involving two Rottweilers each this week. Two of the animals were vicious, he said.
Since starting the job, Morrall said he has picked up about 65 stray dogs, 12 of which were eventually claimed by their owner.
The most cats Morrall has seen in one location is 38.
He explained that an older woman was adopting the cats off the street and housing them in her garage.
The odor became so pungent the garage had to be demolished and was rebuilt.
Morrall said he knows one man who has 20 cats living with him inside a mobile home and feeds another 20 daily.
Another resident has six dogs inside his home and five others he cares for outside.
Some of the cats are so aggressive that they damage swimming pool liners.
Euthanizing
As a last resort, Morrall can euthanize animals. He has the state license and equipment. This is only done when an animal is extremely aggressive.
Morrall said he believes that 50 to 60 percent of owners take care of their pets the best they can. The balance only think they are caring for them.
Owners keep them on chains or in a small cages so they can't exercise, don't provide shade in the summer or straw in the winter, he said.
yovich@vindy.com