CLEARFIELD -- A proposed bill will not create an open season on feral animals, a local lawmaker says.
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, said House Bill 210 "does not allow just anyone to kill any animal that they believe is feral."
"Cities have ordinances that restrict the discharge of firearms or any weapons with a projectile within their limits," Oda said.
Oda said he has received a number of complaints concerning his bill, which was filed Wednesday.
One of those upset with Oda's proposed bill is Trudy Higgs, of Sunset.
"I can't believe (Oda) wants to pass a law to give license for people to shoot these different animals," she said.
"It's not right. How do you know if they're feral or not? They could be lost for all you know."
Higgs advocates pet owners taking care of their animals, including spaying and neutering dogs and cats.
She does not want to see people killing cats just because they think the animals may be wild.
Oda said his bill has not been assigned to a committee yet. A committee of representatives has to approve the bill before it goes to the full House of Representatives for a vote.
"I can understand why people are upset with me, but once I've explained what my bill is and what it says, then most understand what I'm doing," Oda said.
Oda said he does advocate the killing of a feral animal, such as a cat or pigeon, if it is threatening a resident's pets or a person, but that it should be done as humanely as possible and also within the laws of that community.
"I definitely am not advocating decapitation or clubbing," Oda said.
Oda does advocate following the American Veterinary Medical Association's guidelines for humane euthanasia. Those guidelines include shooting, blows to the head and decapitation, but they emphasize the killings should be done by properly trained people using well-maintained equipment.
Decapitation is primarily recommended for a research setting.
Oda also said many rural areas in Utah do not have access to animal-control services.
And in some areas, he said, residents are compelled to pay a daily rental fee with a deposit for the use of a live trap and then bring the trapped animal to the animal shelter.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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