Stray cats a problem in Girard
Council is addressing the issue.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD — Lawmakers often become accustomed to handling complaints about stray dogs, but it is stray cats that are causing city officials here concern.
City resident Ed Semple, after a long discussion on loose cats by council members, told lawmakers that felines are a problem for many city residents.
Semple said some residents may get angry enough to address the problem themselves if council does not do something about the animals.
“Actually, we have received more complaints about stray cats than we have received about dogs,” Mayor James Melfi said. “Stray animals, cat or dog, are illegal and we are going to address it.”
Melfi said the city at one time contracted the services of the Animal Welfare League to handle problems with stray animals for $6,000 annually, but the AWL notified the city two years ago that it would no longer service the city and some other surrounding communities.
No one collects cats
The city, since losing the league’s services, has used the Trumbull County dog warden’s office to collect stray dogs. That office, however, does not pick up stray cats.
Robert Campana, county dog warden, said his office does not pick up stray cats because there are no state regulations or guidelines governing them. He said individual municipalities could enact legislation governing cats, but would have to hire an independent agency to pick them up.
Melfi said with no agency willing to collect stray cats, the feline population in and around the city has grown considerably.
“We are waiting to see what council’s direction is and what they want us to do,” he said. “This is something we want to address for the homeowners and be compassionate to the animals at the same time.”
Councilman Michael Costarella, who is looking into the matter, said council is working on a solution. He said lawmakers will likely need to approach the issue in two parts with necessary legislation.
Identifying pets
“All council can do is pass legislation, we can’t go out and catch cats,” he said. “First we need something, some sort of legislation, requiring cat owners to identify cats as domestic or being owned by someone. The second part of the problem is a service to pick them up.”
Costarella emphasized that council does not want to require cat owners to obtain a permit or license. He said it just makes sense that council require owners to make their cats identifiable with some sort of tag so that they are not mistaken for strays, picked up and taken away.
The councilman said he favors a warning system for cat owners who allow their pets to roam freely. He said after the initial warning, there would be fines for owners who repeatedly allow the animals to roam.
“Cats, just like dogs, should be kept under control of the owner,” he said.
Stray cats with no owner, Costarella said, would still be an issue. He said there is no place to take the animals even if a service is hired to pick them up.
Costarella said the stray-cat problem goes beyond Girard and should be handled regionally or include input from county officials.