NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) — Poor leash law enforcement has led to dogs mauling or killing more than 30 cats in the downtown area, Natchez residents say.
Many people are talking about the problem but nothing is being done, Nan Garrison, vice president of the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society, told The Natchez Democrat.
She said a nighttime animal control policy is the only solution she sees, and concerned residents will try to get some answers Tuesday at the Natchez Board of Aldermen”s meeting.
“Cats are not subject to the leash law, whether people like that or not,” Garrison said. “You cannot live in the city limits and have a dog and it not be in a fenced-in yard or on a leash. There are quite a few people who think they are not subject to that.”
Angela Gibson said her 24-year-old cat, Pear, was sitting on her back yard when dogs attacked him about 10:15 p.m. on Aug. 29. She said she heard a noise at the back door and immediately jumped up and ran outside.
“I got out there just in time to see them running from the backyard with my cat in their mouth,” Gibson said.
Gibson said the large dogs dropped her cat in the alley. Gibson said she took him to the veterinarian.
“There was nothing they could do,” she said. “They had to euthanize him.”
Mike Willey woke to find two dogs that matched the “cat killers”” description on his back porch at his house on Oak Street at 3:30 Monday morning.
“They seemed to be looking for prey,” Willey said. “My wife and I have several cats that, thankfully, were in the house.”
Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton said the city is trying to identify the dogs” owners. He said he has suggested that people get together and start a Neighborhood Watch.
Middleton said adding personnel is not the solution because it”s nearly impossible for a police or animal control officers to catch a dog.
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Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/
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