Police discourage feeding stray cats
Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman has announced that his department will begin cracking down on local citizens who are violating a nuisance ordinance by feeding stray cats.
"Stray and wild cats being fed or harbored by individuals in the city limits are causing problems in several neighborhoods," Pohman said.
A city ordinance prohibits a "cattery," which by definition in the ordinance is "any premises where there is being maintained or harbored a total of more than three (3) cats or more than two (2) unspayed female cats over the age of six (6) months, except veterinary hospitals."
The ordinance calls for fines up to $100 and confinement in the county jail for not more than 60 days if the offending citizen continues to defy the ordinance.
Anyone questioning how the ordinance might relate to a specific situation, can read the full text of the ordinance at the city building said Pohlman.
"It really is becoming a big problem in some parts of town," he added. "People think they are doing the strays a favor by feeding them, but they are simply adding to the problem."
