A Pet-Peeve

The discussion on the "cat-leash" law has been a Pet-Peeve of mine for a long time, pun intended.  However, my annoyance with the issue has  nothing to do with whether folks think cats should be allowed to roam free or not.  It has to do with how folks use it to claim that pets are unimportant.

The debate over the free-roaming cats causes great passion in cat-lovers.  Pro-cat organizations such as PAWS argue that allowing cats to roam free shortens the life of the cat.  Other cat-lovers argue that keeping cats inside brings psychological damage to cats.  I sided with the former argument having lost a beloved family cat to a car, but I remember getting my ear chewed off by a cat-loving citizen who was very angry with me for voting to leash-cats.

I respect both sides of this debate because they come from the same place: a respect and love of cats.

However, I have a big problem with those who say things like: "Quit talking about cats, talk about my issue!", "The council wastes its time on leashing cats.", and "Look at the council, all they talk about is cats."

A few loud voices claim laws concerning cats (and pets) are unimportant, because cats (and pets) are unimportant.

Sorry, but I couldn't disagree more.  The majority of folks in Edmonds value their pets and they expect the council to have the same attitude.

One councilman understands the importance pets more than any other: Michael Plunkett.  He started an initiative effort to ensure strays were spayed and neutered before they were put up for adoption.  He and the citizens gathered 5000 signatures in support of his cause.  I have yet to see anyone pull 5000 signatures for any other cause.  Heck, the citizens and I only gathered 4,500 signatures opposing gambling.

Michael Plunkett also loves cats, but takes a different view than me, preferring to allow cats to roam free.  His last opponent tried to humiliate him for taking a stand on a cat issue. She was flattened in the election.  Michael Plunkett takes pet issues seriously, and the public rewards him.

I too was mocked during my re-election, but it didn't hurt me either.

Council member Bernheim recently sponsored an ordinance allowing folks to have a few hens.   I took a few fun pokes at him, which I felt I could do because he was a friend, but ultimately, I stopped the jokes and voted for his plan.  Again, the people of Edmonds like their pets, and I wasn't about to cross them.

In short, folks in Edmonds want the council to take pet issues seriously.  They do not reward council candidates who mock their pets and reward council members who deal wisely with laws concerning pets.