Stafford County has no leash law for cats, meaning cats can roam free to do whatever they please. Whether these cats are aggressive, dangerous, or sick matters not.

I live in a townhouse development where there's a stray problem. One of my children was attacked by a cat earlier this year. Our small dogs were also attacked.

The county refused to come get the cat until it hurt someone, so eventually it hurt someone. We now have more cats, as they are multiplying. There is a litter of stray kittens in my backyard right now.

The county wants me to trap the cats and bring them in, as though the normal person has time to do that. Seems a bit ridiculous, does it not?

The fact the county has no leash law should not mean that animal control can ignore aggressive strays in my yard. I'm reasonably certain the spirit of the law is not that dangerous animals be allowed to roam free. I'm also reasonably certain money and time are the issue; the county doesn't want to spend its time and resources protecting and serving when it can hide behind a leash law--or lack of one.

Chris Tharp

Stafford