Sadly, the law on this is not that clear-cut - there have been
numerous instances around the country where community cat
caretakers have been found to have "possession, custody or control."
I am working with a couple of other lawyers to try to draft a
possible amendment to make it clear that this does not apply to
"feral" or free-roaming cats.
Nadia
Nadia Adawi, Esq., M.B.A.
Vice Chair, Pennsylvania Bar Association Animal Law Committee
[email protected]
(215) 292-3080 cell
On Feb 12, 2014, at 1:35 PM, Horowitz, Tina wrote:
I think the important words here are “owns or has possession,
custody or control” – feral cats are by definition, wild, so I
don’ t believe they would apply here, even if someone maintains
the colony regularly. I think this bill clearly is targeted at
people who have animals that have a home that they can go to but
are instead left outside.
Tina Horowitz
Wharton Financial Institutions Center
University of Pennsylvania
2306 SH-DH, 3620 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-573-7382
fax 215-573-8757
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]
] On Behalf Of Nadia Adawi
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 12:39 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; UCNeighbors Neighbors
Subject: Re: Big concerns about this bill, need more information:
Re: [UCNeighbors] Dogs Left Outside
Good catch - I just now pulled the proposed bill (Bill No. 140080)
and it reads:
"... any person who owns or has possession, custody or control of
a dog or cat shall not allow the animal to remain outdoors (except
for brief walks and exercise) whenever the outside temperature
falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or rises above 85 degrees
Fahrenheit or whenever inclement weather conditions, including but
not limited to rain, sleet, ice, snow or wind are likely to
threaten the health or safety of the animal."
I am worried that this could include those of us who maintain
feral cat colonies as well. Let me ask some other animal lawyers
what they think.
Nadia
Nadia Adawi, Esq., M.B.A.
[email protected]
(215) 292-3080 cell
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On Feb 11, 2014, at 12:26 PM, Naomi Segal wrote:
Cindy (or someone else) can you please get more details on this?
The radio report this morning that I heard included cats, and that
would be a HUGE problem for me or for anyone who cares for rescued
or outdoor cats.
Lots of people know our cat Charlie ("Charlie the Beloved USP Cat"
on Facebook; we didn't create that page, USP students did).
Charlie was rescued at 1 year old, almost 10 years ago. Once he
felt healthier he made it TOTALLY CLEAR that he would decide when
he was going in and out, not us, unless we or our other cats
wanted to feel his wrath. He is very annoyed at the weather this
winter, but we've learned: We let him out, we set a timer for 5
minutes, he comes back in. Or if it's super cold he won't even go
past the front door. He also has an insulated cat box on our porch
with hay. He hasn't been out overnight in months -- he's brought
himself back because he knows it's cold. But it's HIS choice, and
can't be ours, or else he couldn't live with us or probably anyone.
It's the same for many cared for outdoor and rescued cats.
Bottom line: If cats are part of this bill then PLEASE don't
support it until some changes are made. and if anyone can get more
information on it and post it then that would be wonderful. If it
doesn't include cats and was just a wrong report then THAT WOULD
BE GREAT!!
thanks.
Naomi (Segal)
On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 10:05 AM, Cindy Miller
<[email protected]> wrote:
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson has proposed making it illegal to
leave dogs outside when temperatures are below 32 or above 85. You
can email your councilperson to express support for this at: http://philadelphiacitycouncil.net/council-members/
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/02/09/leaving-dogs-outside-in-freezing-cold-could-become-illegal-in-philadelphia/
-cindy
