Cats Take Focus of Doylestown Pet Ordinance Discussion

Doylestown Borough Council on Monday voted to advertise its new pet ordinance with a few changes.

Though discussion previously had centered around dog issues including their safety and comfort, Monday's discussion turned to the the proposed requirement that domesticated cats could only run at large if identifiable by a collar or chip, according to Borough Manager John Davis. 

The companion requirements that these cats also be spayed/neutered and vaccinated in order to run at large were touched on—but only briefly—and ultimately remained while the collar/chip requirement did not, Davis said.

A number of people spoke of the difficulties of collaring cats and their objections to doing it, he said. Many misunderstood the provision thinking that it applied to feral cats or would result in cats being captured and seized.

"The discussion allowed us to correct these misconceptions. A number of people simply felt the requirement was too intrusive of pet owners," Davis said. 

Anne Irwin, head of the Bucks County SPCA and a number of people advocated chipping as a simple and very helpful means of keeping cats safe.

Ultimately, Council decided to remove the provision but to move forward with a chipping clinic thereby promoting chipping voluntarily.