Corner Brook cat house coming down
Owner of derelict house uses up nine lives in dispute with city
The city of Corner Brook has reached an agreement with the owner of a derelict house that was once home to nearly 200 cats to demolish the building.
In exchange, the city has agreed to withdraw a charge against the home's owner, Chris Green, for failure to clean up the property following a fire last summer.
The announcement comes one year to the day after the city and the SPCA removed 180 cats from the property on McWhirter's Lane.
Neighbours had been complaining for months about the stench created by animal waste coming from the property.
Keith Cormier, who lives next door to the house, has been lobbying the city for months to demolish the building.
'It is tremendous news.' —Keith Cormier, 'cat house' neighbour
"It is tremendous news, not only for our family but also for the other residents of the lane," said Cormier.
"This house has been a nuisance and a health hazard to our family and all the families on the lane for over a year."
Corner Brook Mayor Neville Greeley said the city will foot the bill for the demolition. Neville said the house could be gone within the next two weeks, once city officials have chosen a contractor and worked out a schedule.