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Home My WebLink AboutPACKET Public Safety 1995-05-18PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE May 18, 1995 8:00 A.M. POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. Proposed Notification Letter to Crime Victims 2. Proposed Cat Leash Law Public Input 3. Duke Smith - Director of Colorado State Silver Buckle Program Silver Buck Award Recipients: Retired Police Chief, David Racine Sgt. Eddie Lang 4. Personnel Hiring - Update 5. Law Publications FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. New Fire House 2. Miscellaneous Items REPORTS 1. Old Business - Traffic Summary 2. Correspondence Summary * The committee reserves the right to consider other appropriate business not available at the time the agenda was prepared. lactory Surphts Distributors 2300 MAnKET STREET â€žna,825-2003 DENVER, COLORADO 80205 OTHER LOCATIONS: BOULDER GLENWOOD SPRINGS TELEPHONE 825-2003 ESTES PARK FIRE Quotation No. 94830 P.O. BOX 1200 Date ESTES PARK CO 80517 Yo ur Re f . No . 94830 ATIN: JACK RUMLEY Ref. Date August 30, 1994- We thank you and wish to quote as follows 4 - (i-- T 5'0' on your inquiry: 3 41450 Level A Total Encapsulating Suit with Scott Hansen Pass Thru //r~ d U . , .24 - XL . 1 Nulk CA , m \\4*Z:55/ 2 41370 Level B Total Encapsulating Suit with Scott Hansen Pass Thru /52\- SM - XI., /3/6 1% XXL IC 3 3 9 1 j / 1 99971 Test Kit Egr Level A Suits - C riv3// 8 Steel Grip 9362 C Nomex Coverall - Velcro Front ONX6 9362C Orange 3 1,3 E. 4 0 YNX6 9362C Yell~w y I.3 8- 11 c NBN(6 9362Â£ Navy Blue 3 1 3 520 RBNX6 9362C 1 Decontam Portable Shower D7000 1 Wind Sock with Mast NB F.O.B. Shipping Point Terms Net 30 Shipment 4-5 Weeks from Factory Prices are subject to any and all federal or state taxes applicable by law. Prices and terms of this quotation are based on our credit department's approval and acceptance. Prices quoted herein are valid for 30 days from this date, unless otherwise specified. There are no warranties which extend beyond the description on the face hereof,and Factory Surplus expressly disclaims all responsibility for special, incidental or consequential damages and expressly disclaims any warranties of merchantability of fitness for a particular purpose. by Sales im /51 :1 ~NESTERN FIRE EQUIPMENT compANv, INC. ~41Â¥7 69 0 131 Spring St. â€¢ P.O. Box 4127 â€¢ Pueblo, Colorado 81003 â€¢ (719) 542Â·2896 â€¢ Fax: 719-542-2900 9~ 0 601 East 45!h Avenue â€¢ Denver, Colorado 80216 â€¢ (303) 295-0846 â€¢ Fax: 303-296-6503 TO F ESTES PARK FIRE ~| P.O. BOX 1200 ESTES PARK CO 80517 L J , DATE 1/_-/f>-- g~.'~ quotation ATTENTION: JACK RUMLEY I 1 scott 804242-01 60 minute Air Pak with Kevlar Cyl & Case Air Line Manifold 27540-04 Hansen Hose Assembly 27537-01 AP<7 2. u ~ 2 Scott 30010-100 100' Hose with Hatisen 4 17(94 804222-01 Rev]:s-Qua.*der 3 Â· Shipment scheduled for after receipt of your order. TERMS: NET 30 We appreciate this opportunity to quote you F. O. B. DESTINATION and thank you lor your inquiry. Cordially yours, These prices will be honored for 30 days, and Western Fire Equipment Company, Inc. this quotation is based on shipping and invoicing of Items as they become available. (92 9311 .Â»74 Â¥L re:=S~~=- r< ESTES PARK FIRE C --1--1 1 ~ 1.HAZ/DIAT ECUIFIXENT PURCHASE. ----I-t.. 2. STANLEY PARK LOCATION NEW FIRE STATION. 1.1 1 /5 \ 3. BOMB THREATS. \- ,-05- tr: N.KÂ« 2 -- -1 4.SANDBAGGING /COST Â«/ 4- 5,~EC*FRY OF HAZ MAT COSTS. \ - ) 4 LAB SAFETY BID PER PHONE. 2 LEVEL B SUITS WIHT PASS THRU FOR AIR LINE. .$ 379.87 3 LEVEL A SUITS WITH PASS THRU FOR AIR LINE $ 755.60 TEST KIT. $ 775.90 3 SCOTT AIR 60 MIN. W/LIFE LINK 93800.00 SPARE BOTTLES $ 1244.00 l. . I 3 41 iwilz.rmi~<Le;43( < TOWN OF ESTES PARK Police Department EN" - -*9%42 'M I. Rk 'fitâ‚¬'FL --clptillip,K>*11 . _ , Â¢ 'Atier A;. -1 611 - 7/2 - 24*4.35'.9.1,>9'Nul) '#r ..a-1. r-:9'1Gou.xÂ·.* A:.4 - 1 Ft.4 .4, <. . 4 -~1-' 9, /1- .... -.,484:% *t- May 15, 1995 4Â»-9, 4 GVY. , 4 .--. *.+Il ,.'Â·3#f~- I ; .7. Mr. & ppgr Citizen Box Estes Park, CO 80517 Dear Mr. & Mrs. Citizen: When a person has been the victim of a crime, the judicial process can Â·be somewhat intimidating and confusing. Therefore, in an effort to facilitate any future concerns you may have, this letter contains information specific to your case. 1. The Case Number assigned to your case: 2. The name of the Officer/Investigator assigned to your case: ./V ""1 3. The telephone number Â»t may call for infaftnation concerning: 9* case: Â·S: If in the future you should have any questions,: *or fuither informationÂ® add to your ca*, your police department is here to provide guidance inâ‚¬Ukervice. Please difeet your questions *F information to the Officer/Investigator assigned to your case, at the above phone number. In addition, the following programs are available through your police department: 1. Neighborhood Watch 7. Sexual Assault Prevention 2. Operation Identification 8. Shoplifting Prevention 3. Home Security Programs 9. Robbery Prevention 4. Home Security Surveys 10. Domestic Violence 5. Business Surveys Prevention/Intervention 6. Personal Safety 11. School Programs Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Randy Repola Captain of Police RR/jo LOCAL FELINE ACTIVITY REPORT THE ESTES PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT The Estes Park Police Department reports: 1992 Cats Lost 21 Cats Found 9 Cats Reported Dead 0 1993 Cats Lost 26 Cats Found 7 Cats Reported Dead 1 1994 Cats Lost 22 Cats Found 7 Cats Reported Dead 1 1995 (To Date) Cats Lost 3 Cats Found 0 Cats Reported Dead 0 ESTES PARK ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER The Estes Park Animal Center reports: 60 cats turned into their facility from June 1993 - December 1993 75 cats turned into their facility in 1994 33 cats turned into their facility to date in 1995 ESTES PARK ANIMAL CLINIC The Estes Park Animal Clinic reports that they receive, per month, an average of: 15 lost Cats 3 found Cats .... ...,A Cat Leash ordinence Scott Rashid 1) House cats don't have to go outside to find food, yet they kill, and most times don't even eat what they kill. 2) Dogs have a leash ordinance because they bother wildlife. Cats bother wildlife also. 3) House cats kill indiscriminately. They kill large numbers of songbirds, gamebirds, As well as mammals. The house cat is the number one reason for the decline of ground nesting birds such as Meadowlarks, and Hornedlarks. 4) I rehabilitate birds of prey. I had a Northern Saw-Whet Owl that was attacked by a house cat, and now the owl is permanently disabled. It is documented that one owl can catch-:more mice in one night than seven cats could. House cats don't really do all that much as far as keeping rodent population in check. 5) Both Loveland and Fort Collins have leash ordinances for cats. 6) Myself and at least one other person that I have talked with, have been awakened by cats outside at night. 7) There are a number of people who have had there cats killed by either coyotes or other wildlife. One person that I talked with said " If my cat was killed by a coyote, I would not be mad at the coyote." -r--!.' .n En my.:opinion if someone lets there cat out and it gets killed, the people don't really care all that much about there cats. 8) House cats cause health hazards to children when the cat uses a sandbox as a litter box. Some of the disease are Tapeworms, Roundworms, and Toxo Plasmosis. 9) I trap and band birds. I have had at least one of my handed birds killed by a cat. 10)I have two cats kahk that are 4 years old and have never been let outside. Cats don't have to go outside. 11) With a leash law, the feral cat problem would be better controlled. lei . -1- . - I. -u.-......420- â€¢ -lf - Leash Law Page 2 Scott Rashid 12) Cats have been known to use gardens as litter boxes. 13) House cats damage property when they urinate on others property. 14) Wild cats pass on diseases such as Feline Leukemia to other cats. .Â»t 6.04.120 6.04.120 Owner responsibility., horses. provided that at least one-half The person owning or having charge. acre of pasture land is provided for each care. custody or control of an animal is horse. Pets or show animals. chickens. responsible for the conduct and actions ducks. geeseand other domesticated fowl of said animal and shall so control the are permitted subject to the numberical animal as to prevent the animal doing limitations in Scction 6.08.050. any injury Or damage to the property of The keeping oflivestock and domestic any other person. Failure to so control an fow! except as hereinabove provided is animal as to prevent the animal doing declared to be a nuisance. (Ord. 2043 Â§ 2 damage or injury to the property of (part),!982) another shall be construed to be a vio- lation of this section. (Ord. 2043 Â§ 1 6.08.020 Livestock st large. (part), 1982) A. It is unlawful for any livestock to be running at large within Ihe munici- pality except that horses being ridden or Chapter 6.08 being led by reins are excluded from this Section. KEEPING OF ANIMALS B. Any livestock running at large within the city shall be impounded by the Sections: animil control officer or any police 6.08.010 Limitations on animals. officer. The animal control officer or 6.08.020 Livestock at large. police officer shall notify the person own- 6.08.030 Livestock impoundment ing or having charge, care, custody of the fees. livestock as set out in Section 6.12.070 6.08.040 Fowl kept in city parks. except that estrays shall be taken up and 6.08.050 Limitations on the notice thereof given pursuant to Colo- number of common rado Revised Statutes 35-44101 et seq. as household pets. amended. (Ord. 2043 Â§ 2 (part). 1982) 6.08.060 Exotic and dangerous animals-Keeping 6.08.030 Livestock impoundment prohibited. fees. 6.08.070 Transporting or selling A. The person owning or having dangerous animals charge. care. custody or control of any prohibited. livestock shall be liable for all fees and 6.08.080 Exceptions to keeping charges incurred as a result of the and transporting certain impoundment Of livestock. The city or animals. any independant contractor with whom the city has agreed to provide impound- 6.08.010 Limitations on animals. meat facilities shall nor release any live- It is unlawful for any person to keep. Stock impounded until all fees incurred pasrure. house. or maintain on any parcel are paid. Fees may include care and feed- of land in the city an> livestock. e.\Cepr iag charges. ve[en nanan cha:ges and in> r f ( 1 it 1 ID 6.12.050 except that the canine may be off said 6.12.070 Vicious canine or feline. premises if it is under the control of a Except as provided in Sections competent person. The canine shall be 6.12.080 and 6.12.090, no person shall construed to be under the control of a own, keep or harbor a vicious canine or competent person ifit is oil a leash or lead feline within the city. A vicious canine or held by the person or it is in the immedi- feline is that canine or feline which ate vicinity o f the person so as to be able inflicts unprovoked bites or unprovoked to respond to voice or other signal com- attacks upon human beings or other ani- mands and in fact is trained to so respond mals either on public or private property; to voice or other signal commands. 1 or, not having been provoked, nev- B. Notwithstanding the provisions of'~ ertheless approaches any person in subsection A of this section, every female J apparent attitude o fattack while that per- canine in pre-estrus, estrus or post-estr'us j son is upon public or private property. (in heat or in season) shall be confined in Evidence of previous unprovoked a building or secure enclosure in such a attacks orunprovoked bites upon human manner that the female canine cannot beings or other animals either on pubUc come into contact with another male or private property shall be deemed canine except for planned breeding. prima facie evidence that a canine or fel- C. Notwithstanding provisions of ine is vicious. (Ord. 2043 Â§ 3 (part), 1982) subsection A of this section, no canine shall be permitted in a public park or ~612.080 Restraint-Vicious canine recreation area unless the canine is or feline. restrained by a leasb or a lead of no longer Any canine or feline which has been than six feet and said leash is beld by the determined to be a vicious canine or fel- competent person. (Ord. 2043 Â§ 3 (part), inc pursuant to Section 6.12.070 of this 1982) chapter shall be kept by its owner or custodian within a secure enclosure, which enclosure will prevent the animal 6.12.060 -Felines running at large. 1 from having any contact with any other A. Every person owning or having animalor human being. The animal may charge, care, custody or control of any be outside the secure enclosure when it is feline of any age shall keep such feline on a leash which is no longerthansix feet, exclusively upon his own premises the leash is held by a person capable of except that the feline may be off the controlling the animal and the animal is premises ifit is under control ofacompe- securely muzzled so as to make impossi- tent person. ble the inftiction of bites upon other ani- B. Any feline found within the city mals or human beings. Tbe secure Limits not upon its premises may be trap- enclosure shall be posted with asign read- ped by the owner or occupant of tbe ing, "Beware - Vicious Dog" or, premises on which tbe feline has come so "Beware - Vicious Cat. as appropriate. long as the person complies with Section with letters at least three inches high. The 6.04.090. (Ord. 2043 Â§ 3 (part), 1982) sign shall be placed so as to give notice to 95 (Lo~Â¢iind 2-86~ A clfl 0 -11 t.Â· I..../ . ANIMALS AND INSECTS 8 4-96 0 use of chemical, mechanical, electrical or manual Sec. 4-94. Disturbance of peace and quiet devices in a manner which will cause or is likely prohibited. to cause phyaical injury or suffering ta the animal. No owner or keeper of an animal in the city (Ord. No. 160,1986, Â§ 1<35Â·16), 11.4.86) shall permit such animal to disturb the peace And quiet of any person by barking, whining, howling Sec. 4-76. Vehicular accidents with animals; or making any other noise in an excessive, conÂ· duties. tinuous or untimely fashion. If any animal dis, turbs the peace and quiet, its owner or keeper Any person who, as the operator of a vehicle, shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this SecÂ· strikes a domestic animal shall stop at once and tion, provided that, no such owner or keeper shall immediately report any injury or death to the be charged with a violation of this Section unless animal's owner. If the owner cannot be ascertained they or a member of their household over the age and located, the operator shall at once report the of eighteen (18) years has received a warning frnm accident to the humane society. the city of a previous complaint at least once (Ord. No. 160,1986, Â§ 1(35-17), 11Â·4-86) within the preceding twelve (12) months. (Ord. No. 160,1986, Â§ 1(35-20), 11-4-86) Cross reference-Nuisances. Ch. 20. Sec. +76. Removal of dead animals required. Sec. 4-95. Public nuisance prohibited. If any animal dies in the possession of any per- It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper to son in the city, it shall be the duty of such person fail to exercise proper care and control of his or to cause the animal to be at once removed from her animal to prevent it from becoming a public the city and buried at a sanitary landfill. In case nuisance. For the purposes of this Section, a pub- - 7 the owner or keeper of any such animal shall lie nuisance includes an animal which is a safely ) neglect or refuse to remove the same within ten or health hazard. damages or destroys the prop- (10) hours after its death, the city may cause the erty of another or creates ofTensive odors which animal to be removed at the expense of such owner niaterially interfere with or disrupt another per- or keeper, such expense to be recoverable by civil son in the conduct of lawful activities at such action. Whenever the owner or keeper of any dead person's home. animal cannot be found or ascertained, it shall be (Ord. No. 160. 1986, Â§ 1(35Â·211.11-4.86) the duty of an animal control ofEcer to remove Crosa reference-Nuisancei, Ch. 20. and have such animal buried. (Ord. No. 160,1986. Â§ 1(35.18), 11-4-86) Sec. 4.96. Vicious animals prohibited. (al It shall be unlawful for any person to own Sees. 4.77-4-92. Reserved. or keep any vicious animal. A vicious animal is one that biles, claws or attempts to bite or claw DIVISION 6. CONTROL OF ANIMALS any person, bites another animal or in a vicious or terrorizing manner approaches any person in See. 4-93. Animals at large prohibited. C an apparent attitude of attack, whether or not the attack is consummated or is capable of being consummated. All animals shall be kept under restraint. It l shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any (b) It is a defense to the charge of owning or /1 animal to permit such animal to be at large in the keeping a vicious animal that the person or arti- mal that was bitten, clawed or approached by the city, If an animal is found to be at large in the vicious animal was: city, the owner or keeper shall be presumed to have violated this Section except that this SecÂ· (1) Other than in self defense or defense of its tien shall not apply during the controlled envi- young, attacking the animal or engaging : ronment of an animal obedience gchool. in conduct reasonably calculated to provoke 4.1 (Ord. No. 160,1986, Â§ 1(35.19), 11-4-86) the animal to attack or bite; i .ry- 305 8 il RECEIVED MAY 1 2 1995 ADMIN. DEPT Town of Estes Park Attcntion: Gary Klaphake I am writing in response to the recent article that I read in the Trail Gazette regarding a leash law for cats. As a responsible member of this community, I feel obligated to voice my concerns about this matter. I am a cat owner and I too have concern for both my cats well-being and other wildlife that enter my yard. In letting my cat outside to roam my property, I have made a conscientious decision that my cat is not a nuisance to others in the community or their pets. Cats do not chase people, cars, or other pets. I have also taken precautions to help protect the wildlife in this community and to protect my cat. Some examples include yearly vaccinations, a tick collar, and an identification collar with a bell on it that alarms other animals of its presence. My cat is also spade. I feel that any problems stemming from cats in this community should be the responsibility of the involved parties, not the cily government. Cats are surely not the villains that they are perceived to be! Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter! Sincerely, _ 01Â»01~~~~~ Bethany Miller (F 3 Ad.*t C),QU-a.tkt-kieallik &1* 121 a-QQ fLI U,4101'MS +10*-d-*4* dgle-aBLL-, *81~,Al*-4 Â·Z,*bah IAUÂ£_CU)1- 414/~ Â©(19(4 ' Cil, C 9 4 Â»09.Qjl lict*RAL-M- lAa* SOALL- MU-~ 024Â£,- 444* ch.ltuugue- 14*4 â‚¬ M cat <1; 6,8 aut , 1Â£j-6Â£4 ke,ke. UP_@ a#04 &â‚¬ui#f a.64~-23 ti WAQU (9*21.<b. 11(25 9*]~i *AU+4 AA a..2 ahguij l~aud l tRU.Â£ u*varnum&Jad# 642 /IuÂ©5t~, 5 c.de JJN 1 5 p,UbJ (111 â‚¬4.k. i 841 Cak-10Â£~__6<Lal-SerÂ£Â£_ Old#44 IM, * p.b. Not Ca* 100. Mhh~ dilnat*d 61 101 ~0.10 (94 1.~3411 S~Ae-~ t pu oun- o..ud~4.-13eÂ£Â«Ru_ mu_ 6 Aka ~ABLCALL, -CHL e.ab t10. t~611:--4414-@.cdÂ»V Â£41~ aupu- 4-G 46,2-*41-~14*1_ 14-Upluflhu_ 4*6-.16*0*1*46152*0206\ 02-4-ou--Na6.0122_04) ah-Â£-4dkt /kluuU Lgk_-6 L C /Â»614 [02Â£tj) 501442 0?Llkex#AggjiG,Ut be iÂ«102~Â»Â»~~9'~212122:~Â£Jk~~4,2(~PJNOÂ»4._ -NWL *4 04- Vbpl.5*Â· 991-- --- p.44-yU~ U- UNFGF/LI/,99 00 li.iiz.2.fiV/Lutki-ek/Lit.%/dky,hut- - 4,3 4 Ane. 0-6-1 11,4Â£&cgh*t~- . 31 Vt &423 12 /IU~ C.a) *lieds tpl-A#0_0 I _c4_liouÂ«_1+EGagj li0 1&06093 -Adub ak#00&:if~_021_$441;L~Jrgie Â£ =911Â«1144_cumiÂ»_410 4 -ES-|4011Â£_3_|A 0. ty& _ CALUE#0 hallau#~U- ck_p,Â«J~*11*4*_U- 4,<.d Q,M--#M-gi ~ah oeuÂ£41 -*W,~-Â£-WO#&62.-) 151/41$.Laguaa-WhkA 331_ d.b491210*tuul_q.Aa*Mlah.119&04 - 6Â«-14-uu-01*111_4Â£kgak i 0 A* ~-11 WA# IkbciU .31 4 042 k JU11 2 -U_Ulial(46-- - -Â·-(DUL.*6_412 V 2%%~trePR-~00*~ ~ an ,*ea- _pt#_u*-14_-aMIG.do. 4)*Â£D_icaj-lal_-koÂ»26-48Â» -4------'_Gelltiul:kpetÂ».u~_5-6-cu 6.-, )-bp.%--*&gix_pi-140-1Â«_&0_UL _U_Lspu-:b. #*-AL#%46_CÂ£_1-21*+U _WU]*_efk-(*u)_Peil~_e._62UÂ¢zc~-fklkaÂ»-._B- . ' A 1A A 00 03>%P*1-&41&2. 04 Aeetilt - 0-~ Â·0081~ufhiU+U.Q?-4-0.*1)yQT'' L ~. f ..f v et - ; jAW' 44 .2./91 0-u- 93-aet. '311&-:Â·p-up.6 6 11&492 (f- 33fts 3;fftfutzti~- (Dill Sp-Q.flol * Oxeck 0-- p.U@04 290Â£) (2 h.Â£*uÂ»tf (UH* 648 A p#4*Wae (lw~i MADA #,hAA15-OU. /UQ1*6, 63. %1-~ 4>Jih ka twll /'04 61--Jill) t Alka.64 pu + olm-ttio. lieui-Dj-ec~ N pi)--0*-esL*,, -ttIA.14-4 0-490*64 01 RECEIVED Karen R. Swank MAY 0 4 1995 P O Box 3032 Estes Park, CO 80517 ADMIN. DEPT. May 3, 1995 Public Safety Committee P O Box 1200 Estes Park, CO 80517 Attn: Stephen Gillette Re: Cat Leash Law Dear Steve, Please take the "Cat Leash Law" under great consideration. I believe that Mr. Scott Rashid has an excellent idea. In the past, it has been brought to my attention that there are no "Cat Leash Laws" in Estes Park, yet dog owners have many responsibilities. Dogs must receive vaccinations on a regular basis (as do cats), and must show proof of this in order to get the required dog license tag. There are "Dog at Large" laws, "Vicious Dog" laws and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. Cats, on the other hand, are allowed to roam freely, causing damage, destruction, killing animals and leaving their excrement behind. Because cats and dogs make up the majority of most domestic pets, I believe that they and their owners should have the same responsibilities in taking care of their pets. I agree with Mr. Rashid that cats do cause detriment to our local wild bird populations; not to mention the many other critters that meet their demise due to cats. Dogs are always responsible for their actions. Cats are currently not responsible for any of theirs. I say it's time for equality in the laws among domestic pets and their owners. Please let me know when the public meeting will be held to make the final decision on this proposal. Thank you. Sincerely, Karen R. Swank P.O. Box 2645 Estes Park, CO 80517 May 15, 1995 Public Safety Committee Town of Estes Park P.O. Box 1200 Estes Park, CO 80517 Dear Messrs Gillette, Dekker and Marshall As I will be unable to attend your meeting on May 18, I am writing this letter in response to Scott Rashid's request that the Town enact a cat leash law. Not having been at the Town Board meeting when Mr. Rashid made his request, I can only respond to his statements as they were reported in the Trail-Gazette. Mr. Rashid's comments can be categorized into the following: Cats as predators; Problems caused by cats; and Responsibuities of cat owners. CATS AS PREDATORS. Mr. Rashid made the following statement: ...most times (cats) don't even eat what they kill." Cats are natural predators, and the urge to hunt is instinctive; however, a cat must be trained by its mother to kill (Fogle, p.82), and if it is not taught the connection between killing the prey and the prey being a food source, it will seldom eat what it kills. Because many kittens are taken from their mother at an early age, they have not yet learned to eat what they kill, and thus merely leave the fruits of their hunts as presents for their owners. Mr. Rashid was particularly concerned about the decline of ground-nesting birds such as meadowlarks and horned larks, citin g cat predation as the cause. The normal habitat for both birds is plains, prairies and ' deserts (Peterson, pp. 158 & 214), and I find it difficult to understand how this concern relates to Estes Park, which is in a sub-alpine environment. Mr. Rashid stated that he has seen birds hurt by cat attacks, and described his experiences with a saw-whet owl in particular, a bird who's usual habitat is not Colorado (Peterson, p. 126). I would suggest that if Mr. Rashid did not actually witness the attacks, there are other feline predators in the wild which should not be discounted as sources of injury. House cats are not adept al catching birds, they are pouncers, and do not expect their prey to leave the ground. Studies show that, depending on which part of the world a cat lives in, only 15 percent to 25 percent of a cat's prey consists of birds (Malone, p. 96). My cat is what Mr. Rashid would consider an outdoor cat. Although he spends the majority of each day iii the house, he has free run of the yard, with independent access to the inside of the house. He was properly trained by his mother in that he is a hunter, and he also eats what he kills, snakes being the o nly exception. His "wild" diet includes birds (mainly sparrows) and rodents. Four years ago, some Richardson's ground squirrels moved into my neighbor's yard and expanded into our yard. My cat was instrumental in eliminating this pest colony, for which my neighbor is eternally grateful. My cat also has a size limit. He doesn't bother robins and bigger birds, and is actually the victim of harassment from the family of magpies which nest in our yard every year. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CATS. Mr. Rashid cited the health hazards associated with cats using sandboxes or gardens as litter boxes. My yard has a great deal moreelk, deer and raccoon dung in it than cat dung. Does Mr. Rashid discount the health hazard from these sources of excrement? He reportedly also stated that house cats damage other people's property by spraying. Spraying is one method adult cats use to define their territory. Most cats adopt the owner's yards as their territorial boundaries, and a neutered cat is usually content with a fairly small territory (Fogle, p. 24). When male cats are neutered as kittens, they usually do not develop the spraying habit (Malone, p. 135). They also tend Public Safety Committee May 15, 1995 Page 2 to stay around their home, and because their sexual behavior is nonexistent, they are not out fighting with other cats over territory and sexual favors. In fact, in the eight years I have lived in the Town of Estes Park, I have been awakened countless times by coyotes "singing" as they caroused in the neighborhood, but only once by what sounded to be two cats in a fight. Mr. Rashid referred to wild cats passing disease such as feline leukemia on to other cats. I'm not sure whether he meant feral house cats or the bigger cats (bobcats, pumas). With the predators we have here in the Estes valley, both feline and canine, and the winter weather conditions, I really don't think feral cats will ever be a problem. Mr. Rashid's problems are more properly addressed by a neutering and vaccination requirement, with exception for breeders, which I wholeheartedly endorse as a practicable alternative. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CAT OWNERS. Mr. Rashid was also quoted as having said that owners who let their cats roam loose are not protecting the animal, and implied that the owner did not care for the cat. I have had outside cats as pets for forty-something years, and I consider myself a caring owner. I have always had my cats neutered or spayed, not only to prevent the proliferation of unwanted cats, but also to ensure that my cats stay close to home. I am a firm believer in having my cat vaccinated for rabies, distemper, leukemia, and other feline diseases, so he doesit't present a hazard to other cats. The life expectancy of a cat is 11 to 13 years (Malone, p. 144); a well-cared for cat should live to be 15 years or older (Fogle, p. 109). As my cat is 14 years old, eight years of that living here in Estes Park as an outside cat, it would seem that I am a concerned, caring, responsible cat owner. If any of you are not cat owners yourselves and thus have little knowledge of cat behavior, I would ask you not to base your decision on Mr. Rashid's remarks alone. From the tone of the Trail article, he would have you believing cats spend all their time outdoors damaging property, killing wildlife and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Cats sleep an average of 16 hours a day (Taylor, p. 20), and much of the time they are awake is spent observing what goes on in their world. Training a cat to a leash, unlike a dog, is unnatural and alien to the nature of the feline animal (Malone, p. 81). I urge you to make a decision based on facts and common sense, not emotional outcry, and to recommend against a leash law for cats. S in~.efely /Gin er Fears cc: B. Dannels, S. Doylen, M. Miller, D. Pauley Sources: The 125 Most Asked Questions About Cats (and the Answers), John Malone. A Field Guide to Western Birds, Roger Tory Peterson. Know Your Cat. An Owner's Guide to Cat Behavior, Bruce Fogle, D.V.M. The Ultimate Cat Book, David Taylor. ESTES PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC SUMMONS* 1994 ADULT JUVENILE JAN 37 6 FEB 29 5 MAR 39 3 APR 45 5 MAY 78 9 JUN 57 0 JUL 55 4 AUG 45 0 SEP 28 1 OCT 34 4 NOV 15 1 DEC 21 3 TOTAL: 483 41 1995 ADULT JUVENILE JAN 18 2 FEB 25 3 MAR 37 2 APR 29 2 TOTAL: 109 9 *MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS NOT INCLUDED May 8, 1995 CORRESPONDENCE SUMMARY April 28, 1995 Letter to Officer Schumaker reference citizen appreciation on a traffic stop conducted on April 27, 1995. May 1, 1995 Letter to Officer Schumaker reference appreciation for a job well done reference a letter under " Letters to the Editor" published in the trail Gazette.