Cape Breton Regional Municipality councillor claws back proposed cat bylaw

SYDNEY, N.S. — A CBRM councillor has opted not to pursue the implementation of a cat bylaw after learning the initiative would take a big bite out of the municipal budget.

Coun. Steve Gillespie floated the idea of a cat bylaw at council’s June meeting after hearing complaints from several constituents. The complainants expressed concern that at-large cats continue to cause nuisance by destroying yards, getting into garbage and posing a hazard to other pets.

Council voted to have municipal staff prepare an issue paper on the matter and at this week’s meeting, planning director Michael Ruus presented his findings. He told council that such a bylaw would be costly, put more pressure on existing organizations like the SPCA and the Feral and Abandoned Cat Society (FAACS), both of which have ongoing contracts with the municipality. Ruus forecast that those services, if delivered by the SPCA, would cost the CBRM an extra $100,000 per year.

Gillespie opted not to pursue the matter at this time.