paying-attention

I grew up in a neighborhood where almost everyone kept their lawns mowed, trees trimmed and driveways free of extra vehicles -- running or not. Children walked to school and back twice a day, because we went home for lunch, and didn't worry about being threatened by stray dogs or by homeless people asking for money. For a child it was a version of paradise, although it must have been unexciting for adults. Most of my friends and I were eager to escape as soon as we got the chance. Many of us have landed in similar neighborhoods as parents and old married people, but we'd like to think the differences are important.

I live in what is variously called the mountain west or the high desert southwest and the differences go way beyond weather. One of my favorites is the live-and-let-live attitude. A relative of mine in Illinois once said "I'd never want to live next to you guys because you would never mow your lawn." She was right. We don't mow our grass. We don't even have grass. In this climate, it doesn't rain enough for grass to grow in the first place unless you water it like crazy all during the spring. With water neither free nor plentiful, what the midwest might call a slob just looks like a committed conservationist.

Recently a member of our city council proposed an ordinance to encourage more residents to spay and neuter their pets and to monitor breeding activities to get rid of puppy mills. These are good motives on their own, although not necessarily a good fit for municipal government. Then another councilwoman -- who represents my neighborhood -- got hold of the concept and went hog wild. Except hogs, of course, are illegal inside the city limits.

Abusive dog owners are going to ignore the new ordinance, or move to a smaller town or unincorporated area where the neighbors still mind their own business. Those areas will become worse places to live.

Every pet in the city will need not only a registration but also an embedded microchip. Who will pay for it? Pet owners of course. The rest of us will pay higher fees so that the city can subsidize the vet fees of those who are able to prove they can't afford it. Can everyone say extensive and intrusive documentation? It will now be illegal not to keep your animals properly groomed (whatever that means) and they've finally done it. It will be a crime to let your cat or parakeet stray into your neighbor's yard.

Even back in suburban Illinois we didn't try to keep cats in the yard. This ordinance is billed as a blow for citizen safety and animal rights, but it's really all about control. My councilwoman and her cronies aren't interested in my quality of life. They certainly aren't interested in my cat Henry's quality of life. They are interested in control, in forcing the rest of the city into their smug little suburban habits. I hope they like mice, because without the cats they will have to control them some other way.