Cats could be banned in a New Zealand town. ‘It’s like a police state,’ resident says

Cats may be banned in Omaui, a New Zealand village, as the government considers a plan to force owners to neuter and register their pet felines — and never get a new one. Officials say the cats kill local wildlife. Jens Meyer AP

By Josh Magness
jmagness@mccla

August 30, 2018 11:24 AM 

“It’s like a police state.”

That is Nico Jarvis’ complaint after the New Zealand government announced a plan to eventually ban all cats in her village of Omaui, according to the Otago Daily Times. Ali Meade, biosecurity operations manager for Environment Southland, said the proposed plan would prevent people from purchasing any new cats — and require owners to neuter, register and microchip any current felines they have at home, the newspaper reported.

The ban is needed because Omaui has nature reserves, Meade reportedly told Newshub, and the cats are “preying on native birds” and “all sorts of things.” New Zealand has already announced an “ambitious” plan to rid the country of all non-native predators by 2050...

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article217569255.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article217569255.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article217569255.html#storylink=cpy

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