Proposal could see all Far North cats chipped and snipped

Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf New Far North bylaw will require all cats aged over four months to be “chipped and snipped”. No limit proposed on the number of cats per household. Bylaw also bans roosters and pigs from urban areas. The Far North has had no animal bylaw since 2019, when the old rules were accidentally allowed to lapse. Dogs come under a separate bylaw. The Far North’s cats could be in for mandatory “chipping and snipping” if a proposed new pet bylaw gets the go-ahead. Currently there are no rules around pets in the Far North district – with the exception of dogs, which have their bylaw – due to an oversight that saw the previous animal bylaw lapse in 2019.

The bylaw aims to improve animal welfare and public safety. It also seeks to control the population of certain animals, particularly cats and dogs. The bylaw is expected to be implemented in the municipality by the end of the2023. The bylaw has been met with mixed reactions from the public.

The council’s role is to protect the public from harm. It does so by enforcing regulations and issuing warnings. The council is only able to take action, under the Health Act, if human health is threatened.

Horse riders would be required to clean up any droppings in urban areas, an issue that has vexed some Kerikeri residents in the past. Sam Stewart, founder of Kerikeri-based Coast to Coast Cat Rescue, welcomed the proposed new rules. She said the charity had taken in 2056 cats and kittens since 2021. Many were previously owned but had strayed or were lost, while others were unwanted kittens of owned or stray cats. Very few had been desexed when they arrived in the charity’s care. Stewart said desexing and microchipping of companion cats were long-term strategies that would help address the overpopulation problem.

The bylaw proposed by the city council aims to address the issue of public safety in the city. It focuses on preventing crime and promoting a safer environment for residents. The bylaw is expected to be implemented in the new year.

The summary provided focuses on the importance of animal welfare and the role of various organizations in ensuring it. It highlights the responsibility of the SPCA, mental health services, and council health inspectors in addressing animal welfare concerns.