Cattle here, cattle there, cattle everywhere

THERE is nothing more annoying to the public than when potentially dangerous situations are brought to the attention of authorities, but nothing gets done.

One such well publicised hazard is the number of cattle roaming the roads of the city.

Previously a threat on rural and country roads, this menace has become more prevalent in suburbs and even business locations in the past year.

While their presence in suburbs poses more of a risk in terms of health issues, human confrontations, dog attacks or goring of children, it is the fear of serious road accidents that is uppermost in the minds of most citizens.

Possibly the most dangerous manifestation of unattended cattle has been on the John Ross Parkway, given the speed of moving traffic as well as the large number of fully laden trucks that wend their way on that route every day.

A number of crashes and near hits have been reported and it is especially alarming that many of these have taken place at dawn, dusk or even in the middle of the night.

It is obvious that the beasts are not being driven ‘home’ at the end of day, but are left where they have grazed along the roadside.

Absence (or theft) of fencing means there is nothing to prevent them walking into the road, where they can scarcely be seen until it is too late for drivers to brake timeously.

City authorities have given assurances that the matter is being dealt with in terms of a proposed pound where stray animals will be taken, but in the interim, nothing has changed and they still roam freely.

This goes far more than bylaws being broken or owners who should be educated or fined.

It is a literal matter of life and death.

In the most recent accident, two cattle had to be shot to put them out of their misery.

Next time it might be innocent human lives that pay the price.

Something must be done now.