Rant From Minx with Support From The Editor and his feline pals (Fergie and Sarah have been forced to contribute to the London tax base for 8 years now) They send a nice big fur ball to Anne Marie, Bernie and Crew
My latest beef with the city came up just this weekend past. The city had it's Animal By-law enforcement cops out looking for pets without licences and we were one of the one's who hadn't gotten around to it yet.
We have an old cat, 11yrs old. He is a totally indoor animal, and we live inside of an apartment building where his chances of getting on the street should he be inclined to step out of his doorway, are near NIL. He is a timid animal and not given to "visiting" anywhere. When we first moved in he got disoriented and would sometimes step out of the door because he considered the hall of the building his "house". He was returned by our Building Manager...no harm done.
Our problem begins....here.
My husband lost his employment due to "employee furlough" (lay off) and we have very little money to buy food, and pay the bills. I have creditors calling me because I'm a month late and now the City wants their 20 bucks and proof that the animal is fixed. I would much rather use that 20 dollars to buy busfare to look for a job, or pay for a prescription we need. Or have an emergency fund should a kid get sick...but nope.
They gave us a week to comply. After my husband called them they offered us a "negotiation" we can pay half by the 14th of this month and the other half at the end of the month. For a CAT?
For pity's sakes the animal is an INDOOR family member. Now I find myself in a position of trying to decide if we have the money to spare for our pet. Perhaps we should be looking for a home for him instead? One with the money to pay the Licencing fee for him? It may come to that anyway, sometimes Food Banks just don't have the pet food, and forget about litter.
Perhaps in a few years they'll have a child licence tag too....that way if our kids get lost they can return them to us.....and the city gets to keep the extra money..doesn't that sound like a great idea?? Oh and it doesn't have to stop there, we can licence our Spouses...that way if your husband or wife gets a little tipsy at the bar with their friends, we can easily call the number on their collar and return them home...for a fee. Got anything else you'd like licenced? How about your small animals they always find ways out of their cages (reptiles, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets) oh the list of licencable money makers never ends does it?
Oh I came up with another idea for a licence. We can licence THE POOR. That way everyone will know where they are, who they are etc.
What really makes my day is that I go walking downtown and I can see how well the smoking bylaws are enforced. People not 9 feet from the doors smoking. People standing in front of NO SMOKING HERE signs lighting up. Where are the bylaw enforcement officers for THEM????
