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of the people bitten took this treatment, the statewide cost would have been $50,000.
Match that against the more than $3 million for vaccination fees that would be incurred by cat-owning taxpayers if these laws were statemandated, and who knows how much more for licensing fees.
Are farmers anti rural landowners in Virginia expected to account for every cat that strays onto their land or roams their barns and outbuildings in search of mice?
Are local animal wardens going to be called in to pick up, identify, and house every stray cat in rural communities not wearing a collar or ID tag?
As for adding cats to the list of animals considered personal property, committee members had an even tougher time comparing cats to dogs given their inherent independent nature and tendency to wander. Speculating upon the potential for flooding Virginia's courts with cat litigation cases, not to mention the costs incurred by owners and in fact all taxpayers, gave legislators yesterday not only pause for rational thought, but a chance for some goodhumored debate. The bottom line, however, is this: state legislators should remember that it’s as difficult to mandate state law for Virginia’s cats as it is for Virginia’s citizens!
Del. Guest represents Rappahannock County in the state's House of Delegates. The Warren County resident also serees as minority leader of that body.
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