City of Bellemeade

Ok, there are entirely too many cats roaming freely in the neighborhood.  This morning I had an orange one, an orange and white, a gray and white, a tabby, a black and white, a mostly white one with a little orange, and a solid black in my yard after the birds using the bird baths.  Some of the cats had flea collars and/or cat collars.  None had tags so I suppose that means they have not had rabies shots or the metro license.  Do these cats belong to somebody or do they somehow manage to purchase their own flea collars?  If you really care about your cat, please take care of it before a hawk, a coyote, a speeder, or Animal Control gets it.

You should take that up with the Beautification Committee.  They have more power (and money)  than anyone it seems. 

I couldn't agree more!  The last time I brought up this subject, the mayor replied that these were "nice cats".  That's hardly the point.  Everyone understands that even nice cats are predators and that they will kill small animals and birds.  More importantly, however, is that these cat owners are clearly breaking the law.  I have been tempted to call animal control, but cats are notoriously difficult to catch and Metro animal services is in a state of flux. I'm afraid this concern is like most other problems offered in this forum - a lot of complaints, but no real solutions;  which is why citizens usually have to solve the problems themselves, however possible.

Yes, I am afraid they would soon be dead as bad as the reports indicate Animal Control is.

On your comment of "...... no real solutions.....;" we have to keep in mind that we get what we pay for in a way.  Unlike Lexington Metro, all of the little incorporated cites in Jefferson County kept their status when the city of Louisville and unincorporated areas of the county merged.  One of the results of that is that we have a notoriously low tax rate.  Most of that goes to garbage collection (which far surpasses the service I have seen in some Metro-served areas), paving streets (all except North Chadwick Road), upkeep of publickly-held land (the two entrances and the little area on Woodcleft), the Beautification committee, and some contingencies.  We are on a tight budget.  Our Commission has to manage pennies.  Honestly, I think the Beautification Ordinance has served its purpose and resulted in some expensive services that we can not afford.

Further, on taking matters in my own hands, I contacted LMPD, Metro Councilman Jon Ackerson, Bellemeade City Commission, and Bellemeade Mayor Larry Odom-Groh after my wife came with inches of being run down at our mailbox by a speeder.  Larry responded to my complaint.  LMPD called me twice the very next morning.  Thanks.