Wellington, KS – A new law that went onto the books last month states that a person cannot own more than four felines per household.
A number of local animal laws were put into place at a Wellington town meeting on December 8. In addition to setting requirements for wild or exotic pet owners, an ordinance was put into place that restricts the number of cats an individual can own.
According to the Wellington Daily News , this new cat law was put into place to keep people from hording large numbers of felines . Previous to the ordinance an individual living within the city limits could own as many cats as he or she desired.
Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath said at the meeting:
“Just this year alone, 2012 as of November, we have picked up 231 cats. Those are cats that go to the animal clinic, they’re there for the alloted time, and then unfortunately they are euthanized.”
Heath added that 87 percent of the cats rescued from homes over the course of last year had to be put down.
Paw Nation reports that the Kansas cat law also sets up conditions for people who wish to adopt a feline. Unless the animal in question is being adopted to a person who lives outside the city limits, the cat must be spayed or neutered by a veterinarian.
The ordinance also states that all cats must be vaccinated for rabies.
The Wellington law regarding cat ownership was likely put into place to address the growing number of animal hoarders living in the United States. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund , it’s estimated that nearly a quarter of a million pets are currently victims of hoarding. In the last four years, the number of reports have doubled.
What do you think about the Kansas cat law? Do you think the government should regulate how many animals people can own?
