Dear Mayor & Town Council:
I am requesting that the Town Council review the Town Code Chapter 4, Section 4-14: #5. This particular code does not clearly recognize cats so I am requesting cats be included in the leash law/ordinance.
In the Chapel Hill Town Ordinance under Chapter 4 “Animals and Animal Control” [196 KB pdf] I went to:
4-1 Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply:
(a) Animal: Any Live vertebrate creature specifically including, but not limited to dogs, cats, farm animals, birds, fish and reptiles.
Then I went to:
Sec. 4-14. Certain Acts Declared Public Nuisances
Scroll Down to:
(5) Any stray dog which is away from the premises of the custodian, or in a public place or on any public property in the town, unless the dog is under restraint;
After reading these statements I realized that if one had the argument that the (#5) law doesn’t apply to cats it would be very difficult to enforce this restraint ordinance/law. Then I read (#7) where the word cat(s) was included when referring to rabies control tags. Then I referred back to 4-1 Definitions reminding myself what the law states; “the following definitions shall apply:” so I read (#5) again including all the live vertebrate creatures, specifically cats.
I would like to see THE WORD CAT(S) added IN (#5) AFTER THE WORD DOGJ
To Read Like The Following Ordinance):
Sec. 4-14. Certain Acts Declared Public Nuisances
(5) Any stray dog (or cat) which is away from the premises of the custodian, or in a public place or on any public property in the town, unless the dog or cat is under restraint;
I deeply implore you to add the word cat(s) directly after dog or at least insert a reference to the following Chapel Hill Law/Ordinance 4-1 Definitions:
4-1 Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply:
(a) Animal: Any Live vertebrate creature specifically including, but not limited to dogs, cats, farm animals, birds, fish and reptiles.
By adding this one word, cat(s) it will, without doubt, leave no room for argument and will clearly convey to Chapel residents their responsibility to their town, pets and neighbors. I live in Coventry on Weaver Dairy Road and our by-laws (#10) read as follows:
10. Pets – Dogs and/or other pets shall be under control of owners at all times in accord with the Chapel Hill leash ordinance.
I would like to present to the Coventry Board my concern/complaint regarding all unleashed pets (Dogs & Cats) in our neighborhood. However, before presenting this request, I wanted this law/word changed/added. Without the word CAT(s) inserted in (#5) the Coventry Board Members might misinterpret the ordinance and insist that the ordinance only refers to dogs instead of including cats and all other live vertebrate creatures. I would like to make sure Coventry HOA abide by this law.
Reason For Request:
I leashed up my dog on July 12th to take her for a bathroom break, I had no more than just stepped off the last of five brick steps when she spotted our neighbor’s cat. Well I don’t have to tell you what happened next, anyone who owns a dog knows, “a dog lives in the MOMENT.” Sadie, my medium size 8 month old dog, took off after the cat and all I could do was brace myself from falling. Sadie was on a new 16 foot hip hugger leash I had just purchased at Petco. Well once the leash extended its 16 feet the plastic clasp broke (where you have the option to use a short hand leash) and that 16 foot cord rewound back in so fast (sounding like a hundred pound fishing line spinning back into a reel) that all I had time to do was position my hands up to protect my face. The sharp broken plastic part hit my left index finger leaving a puncture wound completely down to the bone and partially severed a tendon. Having said all this, this isn’t the first time my dog has went after these cats and I haven’t said anything because, I’m sure you’ve heard this before; we are not only neighbors but friends and I didn’t want to start a war. However, for five years these cats have, too often, performed certain acts of public nuisances which are covered under Section. 4-14. Certain Acts Declared Public Nuisances. One in particular, all three hunt and kill aggressively our state bird, the Cardinal as well as the already sparse beautiful blue birds. When my son sees this needless act occurring, which is often, he attempts to rescue the birds away from these cats but, of course, it’s useless. When I mention this, in friendly conversation and with a gentle approach, the owners simply boast at what fabulous hunters these cats have become. Wow that’s great news….I think to myself….and then go home. There is no reasoning with these people regarding their cats. The response I hear is, “they are just doing what cats do.” Well, if I left my dog unleashed and unattended and he ran after and killed their cats, as aggressively as they kill birds, and my response was, “well, they are just doing what dogs do”, I have to wonder, would they then feel the same way? Without a doubt, I am sure animal control would be on the scene immediately. If one approaches this type of person face to face, without firm documentation, the situation never really gets resolved, only more intense. So in order to avoid this type of confrontation I am requesting the addition of that one little word (cat(s) in order that IT, ALL BY IT’SELF would be the deciding factor for our Coventry Board Members. Please understand, I had a tremendous amount of pain with this trauma, two courses of antibiotics, a scar, and not to mention the out-of-pocket expense as well as my time. Now, due to a tendon being partially cut during the puncture, my finger will not fold completely down when I close my hand. I never mentioned this incident to the cat owners as they wouldn’t have acknowledged me with any concern having personally experienced their past responses. I simply don’t want this type of accident to happen to anyone else, especially me or my 14-year-old daughter who also walks the dog.
Coventry consists of 43 townhomes which are within close quarters of one another. There are currently 8 Units that are cat owners and (6) of these Units voluntarily keep their cats on leashes and a few cats are declawed and stay indoors full-time. By freely abiding to the Chapel Hill Ordinance and Coventry Bylaws these residents display a respect to their town, pets and neighbors, which is appreciated. However, the two (2) remaining units who choose not to put their cats on leashes or keep them indoors are active COVENTRY BOARD MEMBERS (who should know better). So I hope you can clearly see why the Coventry Board more than likely would NOT agree with me on this issue and therefore clear concise documentation regarding cats is completely necessary.
Warmest Regards,
Anne Johnson
139 Essex Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Attached: Photos of finger after accident [998 KB pdf]
Copy of an excerpt from Coventry Handbook (Bylaw) [139 KB pdf]