'Feral' pet law brings howls

(A feral cat is doubtless a pet species and should be treated as such in abandonment cases.)

It started out as a routine housekeeping item, a means by which Culpeper County could bring local animal-control ordinances in line with state statutes.

But the proposed changes have Supervisor Tom Underwood refusing to vote yes--as a matter of principle--while County Attorney Roy Thorpe insists that adopting the new guidelines is necessary.

"The major problem is that the ordinance has a feral cat defined as a companion animal," Underwood said. "Why would I vote for that?"