Sunday, August 08, 2004

The proposal The proposed ordinance would limit to six the number of combined cats and dogs allowed to be kept at one residence. It would affect pet shop owners including fish stores, which would be considered a kennel. It would also increase the amount one would pay to license a pet, up to four times more in some cases.

So, city government is now in the business of telling taxpayers how many animals they can possess.

This seems to be a bit too much intrusion into the lives of city residents.

Some members of the community are rightfully upset about the proposed ordinance.

Margie Kessinger lives on Lewis Street and currently has two roosters and 20 chickens, which are confined to a pen. She relies on them for food.

But under the proposed ordinance, she would only be allowed to have one crowing poultry and five non-crowing poultry per half acre lot.

Mitch Gibbs, co-owner of Fishey Business Pet Shop, said his business, which primarily sells fish, has never been considered a kennel.

I dont know how you can call a fish store a kennel, Gibbs said. Thats quite a stretch. I dont think thats the intent of the law, but it just wasnt written up very clearly, I dont think.

Does the city really believe that people who buy goldfish or have a koi pond in their backyard are really going to license them?

Lets be serious here.

The city doesnt even have the manpower to enforce this proposed ordinance.

The city has a hard enough time enforcing the existing leash law. Dogs and cats can be seen running loose at any given moment in Bowling Green.

So our question to the city is, should the city be in the business of regulating how many pets people own or should they be in the business of enforcement of existing laws, including laws pertaining to animal cruelty?

The city claims the purpose of the ordinance is to deal with an overabundance of cats and dogs in the community.

If this is such a problem, why not do more to encourage people to have their pets neutered or spayed?

This is a more reasonable approach.

It has also not been decided where the kennel licensing funds would go, possibly to the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society or the general fund. Given the size of increases of license and kennel fees, citizens deserve more definite answers.

The ordinance as written has been tabled. We certainly hope that the city commission and staff do some serious rewriting.

City government shouldnt be in the business of trying to tell taxpayers how many animals they can possess as long as they are properly cared for and not creating a nuisance.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700