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Cats run wild, make tracks, play in traffic
Cats run wild, make tracks, play in traffic
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
They roam in packs, enter people's garages, leave their prints everywhere, and they play in rush-hour traffic.
On Monday, Burton Village Council attempted to deal with complaints about the cat population.
Jennell Dahlhausen, the village's deputy administrative assistant, said she is well acquainted with the problem, because four cats show up almost daily at her home. She said she was spooked one night, thinking a prowler was roaming her front porch, but it turned out to be a 30-pound cat.
She said her neighbor has another four cats that show up routinely and enter the garage to leave their prints all over his prized cars.
Several people have begun to call Village Hall offices to complain about the cats, Ms. Dahlhausen said.
Last week, one of the felines stopped rush-hour traffic by playing in the middle of West Center Street (Route 87).
Marcianne Kimpton, a West Center Street resident, said she watched as traffic stopped at about 4:30 p.m. in the eastbound lane. She said she could not understand why westbound traffic continued to hum along while eastboard traffic was at a standstill until she saw the cat rolling around oblivious to the vehicles attempting to get through.
"Only in Burton Village," Mrs. Kimpton said.
The white cat can be friendly as well. Ms. Dahlhausen said she tried to scare the cat from her front porch by stomping her feet. She said the only response she got from the cat was its attempt to rub up against her leg.
Mrs. Kimpton said it was not the first time she had seen the cat play in traffic without the slightest concern about oncoming traffic.
Ms. Dahlhausen said Mrs. Kimpton told her she has seen the cat, a pure white one, playing alongside the road by a sewer grate while traffic whizzed by. "It sits next to cars going by," Ms. Dahlhausen said. "It doesn't care."
Councilman Jeff Coleman said he is acquainted with the white cat. "It chases dogs," he said.
Mr. Coleman said he occasionally sees feral cats visiting his property, But, he said, they only stay for a short while and are gone.
Councilman Charles Hauser said he believes the cats are coming from the Geauga County Fairgrounds.
The situation left the village in a quandary.
Mayor Thomas Blair said it did not appear the village would have authority to control the cats, if they are someone's pet. "How do you control cats since they are not licensed?" he asked.
He questioned whether other village's have ordinances dealing with cats that the village could borrow from and implement.
Ms. Dahlhausen said the village has an ordinance on dogs, but not cats.
Village Fiscal Officer Christopher Paquette said all regulations seem to weigh in on dogs, not cats. He said the county has a dog warden and issues licenses for dogs, but does not have a cat warden or licenses for cats.
For now, the village will attempt to remind residents to act responsibly with their pets in hopes of avoiding problems.
Councilwoman Linda Swaney said she would include the notice in the next village newsletter. She said she also planned to check with Village Solicitor Todd Hicks to see if he has any ideas.
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