APRIL

By CARLA HALL

Dec. 30, 1998 12 AM PT

Mayor Richard Riordan’s proposal in April to license cats the way the city licenses dogs brought hisses of discontent from area felines and their owners. So like a dog, city cats seemed to say. That’s the point, answered city officials, arguing for species equity with dogs. Proponents said the law, which would have mandated an annual $8 fee for a neutered cat and $30 for an unneutered one, would have also allowed lost cats to be identified and returned to owners. The City Council swatted down the measure, calling it unenforceable. “Who’s responsible for a cat?” reasoned Council President John Ferraro. “They’re independent as hell.”

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Carla Hall

Carla Hall is an editorial board member who writes about homelessness, reproductive rights, popular culture, animal welfare, and human rights in Asia and Africa, among other topics. Before joining the board, she was a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Times’ California section. She previously worked for the Washington Post’s Style section, where she juggled writing with acting roles in small theaters and even a couple of TV shows. She has a bachelor’s degree in the history of science from Harvard University.

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