The City of Barrie currently has an outdated and ineffective by-law that makes it technically illegal for any domestic cat to be outdoors on any property other than its owner's. This blanket prohibition is a drain on city resources, fails to address real issues, and puts Barrie behind our neighbours who have already adopted more modern, effective policies.

It’s time for a change.

This petition calls on the City of Barrie to repeal the blanket "at-large" provision and implement a modern, complaint-based by-law focused on responsible pet ownership and nuisance prevention. This is not about giving cats a free pass; it’s about creating a system that actually works.

The Problem: An Unenforceable Law Wastes Our Money

Blanket prohibition laws are notoriously difficult and expensive to enforce. They require by-law officers to spend valuable time and resources on cats that are causing no harm, while doing little to address the core issues of:

• Public Nuisance: Genuine problems like property damage or excessive noise.
• Stray/Feral Populations: The root cause of many animal-related issues.
• Irresponsible Ownership: A lack of accountability for pets' well-being and behaviour.

Defending this outdated system is a defence of inefficiency. We can do better.

The Solution: A Smarter, Proven Approach

We propose a modern by-law that empowers Animal Control to target real problems effectively. This model is built on two key principles:

1. Complaint-Based Enforcement: By-law officers should focus their efforts on responding to specific, legitimate complaints about nuisance animals (e.g., property damage, aggression). This is the exact same model Barrie already uses successfully for noise and property standards complaints. It’s a proven, efficient, and logical system.
2. Promoting Responsible Ownership: The focus should be on encouraging and enforcing responsible practices, including licensing, microchipping, spaying/neutering, vaccinating, and ensuring pets do not become a nuisance to the community.

This system allows our city to address genuine problems directly, rather than wasting resources on an unenforceable blanket ban.

Barrie is Falling Behind the Regional Standard

Adopting this modern approach is not a radical idea. It's the established norm across our region. A review of our neighbours shows that Barrie is the one with the outdated policy:

• Essa Township (including Angus): States clearly on its website that it does not license or regulate domestic cats.
• The City of Orillia: Has no by-law prohibiting cats from being at large.
• The Town of Innisfil: Instructs residents that by-law officers "do not pick up cats," focusing instead on specific issues.
• The Township of Oro-Medonte: Focuses its animal control by-laws almost exclusively on canine control.

These communities, like many others worldwide, have realized that a simple ban is ineffective. They have moved to a smarter system that trusts responsible owners and targets specific problems. Barrie should do the same.

Let's Be Leaders in Effective Governance
By signing this petition, you are sending a clear message to Barrie City Council:

We want a by-law that is effective, efficient, and enforceable. We want a system that protects residents from nuisances while promoting a culture of responsible pet ownership. We want our city's resources focused on solving real problems.

Let's modernize our by-law, align with our neighbours, and implement a smarter, more effective approach to animal control for the entire community.