TNR Japan Animal Welfare Hospital opposes the petition to revise the regulation for “prohibition of feeding” by the shopping street federation in Osaka, Nishi-ku.
January 3rd, 2011
A shopping street federation in Osaka, Nishi-ku, sent in a petition to the Osaka Municipal Government. The issue is that they are having trouble with cats, including house cats. The cats gather in the arcade, and it becomes their toilet. The arcade has been soiled, and costs a lot to clean. Osaka-city has started a supporter system for cats in the park. This is to pursue proper administration of cats in park since April in 2011. But the cats are not just in the park. Osaka city's system is not ideal, we can't dedend on it. We urgently ask you to assist with the disposal of droppings, or work towards revising the regulation.
Please consider putting into effect the disposal of excreta in the arcade, in addition to the park. If assistance cannot be offered, please reconsider and withdraw the regulation inflicting penalties for the feeding of homeless cats outside the designated area.
Here is our position on this petition. We oppose this petition to revise the regulation for “prohibition of feeding”.
The reason is as follows;
In Osaka-city, they have been taking measures to stop the increase of homeless cats, and also for the disposal of excreta. This has just begun. At this point the most important thing is to continue on with these policies, expand the applied area, and make it easy to cooperate with the system. To revise the regulation is unnecessary, and would be premature at this moment.
A measure by Osaka-city has verified significant tends with a questionnaire survey in 2010. 64.7% of residents said excreta damage has decreased. 73.1% said noise problems have decreased. 61.5% said the number of problematic cats decreased.
This measure is still in progress. If prohibition against feeding becomes a regulation, carrying a penalty, this would certainly create problems for the volunteers and supporters. Thus cooperation will decrease, and the supporter system could collapse. This system is getting the attention of some local governments. The immediate priority should be to concentrate on making this system more effective.
It is very rude and incomprehensible for a member of the municipal assembly to demand that Osaka-city prohibit feeding, as per the petition of Nishi-ku shopping street federation, in the restricted area.
Many local governments in Japan are struggling to cope with issues concerning homeless cats. To prohibit feeding would now would be untimely, counter-productive.
The shopping street federation demands assistance for disposal of excreta due to the expense to cleaning. The administration needs to research the actual situation, and find a solution. But a member of the municipal assembly demands the rush to enact a law to prohibit feeding. To enact law is not so easy. If someone is punished for feeding, it means this law makes criminals of residents. It could possibly be in violation of human rights.
The trouble is not only the homeless cats, but includes house cats. Therefore we must give priority to educating the owners. At the same time, please research the situation of sterilization and feeding, and then take measures regarding these. Before revising the regulation, it is first necessary to go step by step.
It would be a problem under the law to prohibit feeding of protected animals. If there is the inclusion of penalty, it would be more problem.
Please think through this for yourself, and share your opinions with Osaka-city.
Welfare bureau in Osaka-city. TEL 06-6208-9996 FAX 06-6232-0364
A shopping street federation in Osaka, Nishi-ku, sent in a petition to the Osaka Municipal Government. The issue is that they are having trouble with cats, including house cats. The cats gather in the arcade, and it becomes their toilet. The arcade has been soiled, and costs a lot to clean. Osaka-city has started a supporter system for cats in the park. This is to pursue proper administration of cats in park since April in 2011. But the cats are not just in the park. Osaka city's system is not ideal, we can't dedend on it. We urgently ask you to assist with the disposal of droppings, or work towards revising the regulation.
Please consider putting into effect the disposal of excreta in the arcade, in addition to the park. If assistance cannot be offered, please reconsider and withdraw the regulation inflicting penalties for the feeding of homeless cats outside the designated area.
Here is our position on this petition. We oppose this petition to revise the regulation for “prohibition of feeding”.
The reason is as follows;
In Osaka-city, they have been taking measures to stop the increase of homeless cats, and also for the disposal of excreta. This has just begun. At this point the most important thing is to continue on with these policies, expand the applied area, and make it easy to cooperate with the system. To revise the regulation is unnecessary, and would be premature at this moment.
A measure by Osaka-city has verified significant tends with a questionnaire survey in 2010. 64.7% of residents said excreta damage has decreased. 73.1% said noise problems have decreased. 61.5% said the number of problematic cats decreased.
This measure is still in progress. If prohibition against feeding becomes a regulation, carrying a penalty, this would certainly create problems for the volunteers and supporters. Thus cooperation will decrease, and the supporter system could collapse. This system is getting the attention of some local governments. The immediate priority should be to concentrate on making this system more effective.
It is very rude and incomprehensible for a member of the municipal assembly to demand that Osaka-city prohibit feeding, as per the petition of Nishi-ku shopping street federation, in the restricted area.
Many local governments in Japan are struggling to cope with issues concerning homeless cats. To prohibit feeding would now would be untimely, counter-productive.
The shopping street federation demands assistance for disposal of excreta due to the expense to cleaning. The administration needs to research the actual situation, and find a solution. But a member of the municipal assembly demands the rush to enact a law to prohibit feeding. To enact law is not so easy. If someone is punished for feeding, it means this law makes criminals of residents. It could possibly be in violation of human rights.
The trouble is not only the homeless cats, but includes house cats. Therefore we must give priority to educating the owners. At the same time, please research the situation of sterilization and feeding, and then take measures regarding these. Before revising the regulation, it is first necessary to go step by step.
It would be a problem under the law to prohibit feeding of protected animals. If there is the inclusion of penalty, it would be more problem.
Please think through this for yourself, and share your opinions with Osaka-city.
Welfare bureau in Osaka-city. TEL 06-6208-9996 FAX 06-6232-0364
