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Friends of the Cawthra Bush & Greater Mississauga Area
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Opening comments - more at end. Nov. 25, 1988 Fri Mississauga News - Page - 6 Shelter in jeopardy Culham goes to bat to help lady's cats By JOHN STEWART - Staff Reporter A woman who runs a shelter for injured and homeless cats on leased City property has run afoul of a municipal bylaw that limits the number of animals an individual is allowed to keep. Lois Stevens has been running her Burnhamthorpe cat shelter for several years without incident on land the City owns on the east bank of the Credit River just north of Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. But following a complaint to the City's animal control department, Stevens was ordered earlier this month to stop violating the bylaw, which says a person may keep no more than four animals per lot. But Ward 6 councillor David Culham says the problem is being resolved, and there will be an exception made in Stevens' case. "This can be handled at an administrative level," Culham said Tuesday. "There appears to be room for an exception here, since there are no other houses around and no one is affected." The nearest resident lives half a mile from Stevens' home on what is known as the Bird property. "This is an excellent location for this and I have nothing but praise for what she is doing," Culham said in an earlier interview. "She should be applauded for her humanitarian efforts." In an interview at her home Monday, Stevens said she has been taking in injured cats for five years now, ensuring they are spayed or neutered, and adopting them out to responsible people, who must sign an adoption contract. Her problems began, ironically, when she agreed to make a presentation about responsible animal ownership during Animal week earlier this year. Representatives of the animal control department saw her presentation. Shortly afterward, Stevens received a visit from the bylaw department. The Mississauga woman had about 30 cats on her property Monday, mostly in a portable structure she and her husband built for some $5,000. Stevens does not charge for adoptions and only takes from pounds where they would otherwise be destroyed because they have not been adopted within the required time limit. "I'm not funded by anybody but myself," she says proudly. Stevens often works in conjunction with local veterinarians and has worked with Ontario Humane Society officials who are aware of her operation. "They all agree with what I'm doing," she says. Anne Doncaster, a leading local animal rights activist, says the bylaws restricting animal numbers "were never meant to deal with people like Lois." She adds that the rules can "be misused by some little official" who wants to make trouble. According to Doncaster, individuals in Mississauga and many other communities run unofficial shelters that technically violate the bylaw. She says people like Stevens, who are doing exemplary work for injured animals, shouldn't have to live in fear that a single complaint will end their operations. "There are so many others doing the same thing as Lois, who are petrified," adds Betty Hurson, another animal welfare proponent. "They're afraid to have their garbage checked because of all the catfood tins. They have the vet coming at night." Culham says City officials have acted properly in investigating the complaint. He says valid reasons exist for the bylaw, to protect people from bothersome situations. But he also says there are valid reasons for exceptions in cases such as Stevens'. He has asked City staff to consider the possibility of a new policy exempting animal shelters from the bylaw's restrictions. Stevens will likely be moving her cat shelter out of Mississauga next year in any event. The City plans to demolish the house her husband is leasing next summer. Stevens has asked for more than the normal 90-day notice included in the lease so that she can wind down her existing shelter and get another established. That shelter will almost certainly be outside Mississauga. PHOTO; of Lois Stevens petting a cat in the cattery. CAPTION; THE CATS MEOW – Lois Stevens, who has been running a shelter for sick and homeless cats for many years, was recently investigated for violating a municipal bylaw limiting the number of animals a person is allowed to keep. But local councillor David Culham is trying to work out a deal to permit Stevens to continue her humanitarian operation. PLEEASSE SIGN OUR PETITION It will make a difference! Home Page - Main Table of Contents - Back up a page - Back to Top [COMMENTS BY DON B. - ] |
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