NPDC RECEIVES 35 SUBMISSIONS ON ANIMAL BYLAW PROPOSALS
Source: stuff (Extract)
Posted: May 19, 2020
A proposed New Plymouth council bylaw could be a step towards banning cats in the district, a cats’ rights group claims.
New Plymouth District Council has received 35 written submissions on the changes put forward to its animal bylaw, which include reducing the number of cats allowed per property from five to three, and restrictions on feeding and housing strays and feral cats.
However, those with five cats would be able to keep them until the end of the animals’ natural lives, and there would be exemptions for breeders.
The bylaw also proposes banning roosters, ganders and peacocks from urban areas, and rules for beekeepers including basing the number of beehives allowed on the size of a property.
A submission from Feline Rights NZ said they were most concerned that NPDC was “taking an uninformed approach” with the proposals for cats.
“It seems a gradual stage by stage approach is being taken with the ultimate intention of a total ban on keeping cats. Our view is this is happening at local government bodies across the nation.
“We strongly recommend NPDC dispense with all restrictions on the number of cats which may be kept at an individual residence and adjudicate on a case-by-case basis, working in conjunction with SPCA animal welfare inspectors.”
However, others supported the changes, with New Zealand Cat Fancy, the primary cat registry and governing body for cat clubs, suggesting only minor tweaks. Others called for even harsher rules.
Submitters will speak to councillors at an extraordinary hearing meeting on Wednesday (May 20), but a decision will not be made until the full council meeting in June.
