In Athens we are living in mass hysteria. Dogs and cats are running rampant. If we don't do something soon, they might take over the city.
It's a good thing we have the Athens City Council to save us.
From the media attention the spay and neuter pet ordinance has garnered, an outsider would think our sleepy Appalachian town was under invasion by four-legged fiends.
The ordinance would require pet owners to spay or neuter their cats and dogs, which in normal cities would be fine. But this is Athens, and council has gone a bit too far.
The scenario of pet over-population within the city limits is not as much a problem as in the rural areas in the county. There is just not as much room for pets to run wild.
Having said that, spay and neutering animals is never a bad idea. In fact responsible pet owners should always look into this option, especially in the springtime when already packed shelters have to make room for this year's stray puppies and kittens.
If council had stopped there, this column would be about something different.
But the little add-on clauses being inserted into this ordinance are where the real troubles lie.
The first problem is making it illegal to advertise dogs and cats that have not been spayed or neutered. This clause is unrealistic, not to mention bordering on some constitutional infringements with freedoms of speech and the press.
Most advertisements, especially in the spring, are for free puppies and kittens, who are not yet old enough to be spayed or neutered. But people want puppies and kittens and waiting to advertise until they are old enough to undergo the procedure might result in a lack of interest from future pet owners.
Second, and more importantly, the clause of the ordinance dealing with micro-chipping shows that council has not researched enough and could have a hidden agenda.
Micro-chipping is a procedure, usually preformed by a veterinarian, where a chip the size of a ball point pen is inserted between the shoulder blades of an animal. The chip can then be scanned for an owner identification number that a vet, shelter volunteer or city official could use in databases to obtain the owners' information.
The chip, which can cost about $40 when registration, implant and chip fees are calculated, is good for owners, who can find their pet more efficiently.
But the chip could also become a tool for the city to charge pet owners with fines and violations if their pet is found without a leash or off their property.
If the city council members are going to require this procedure, they better be prepared to pay for the equipment as well. The chip scanners can cost several hundreds of dollars, which veterinarians and shelters would have to pay for out of pocket if the city doesn't pitch in.
With seven veterinary offices in Athens, one shelter and several city departments that would need the scanners, the cost could be anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000.
Add that to the almost $5,000 council members decided to spend this week on a new bus and we're getting closer to paying for another firefighter.
Also several different companies manufacture these micro-chips, so city officials would need to confer with local clinics about which micro-chip brands they already use and research common brands throughout the Midwest in case Athens pets wander out of the city.
Ultimately the pet problem in Athens does not add up to money the city would need to spend on a micro-chip requirement.
Let the owners decide how they want their pets returned and keep city money out of the picture.
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Lauren McDowell
