Time for a Kitty License in Langley?

One of the items that we will be talking about at the next City of Langley Park and Environment Advisory Committee is if the City should have a cat licensing requirement similar to the current dog licensing requirement. Langley is home to a diverse species of birds and small mammals, and according to an article in the May 28, 2011 edition of the Vancouver Sun:

Krystal Brennan, education coordinator at the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C., said keeping cats indoors is good for the cat's safety and also prevents cats from attacking and often killing birds and small mammals.

"People don't really see that their cat can cause this much damage to wildlife," Brennan said. "Cats are natural predators that weren't native to this environment."
She said about 10 per cent of animals treated each year at their rescue facility have been attacked

According to the same article in BC over 90% of lost dogs are reunited with their owners while only 10% of cats are. The obvious benefit of cat licensing is that it helps reunite pets with their owners, but it also has other benefits. Both Calgary and Toronto have cat licensing. If your cat is “fixed” the cost per year is in the $10 range, otherwise the cost is three times more. The licensing fee pays for enforcement of animal control bylaws, education for owners, and emergency shelter for pets. It also reduces the amount stray cats that attack wildlife.

With the City of Langley home to the environmental sensitive Nicomekl Floodplain, maybe it is time for cat licensing in Langley.