Pellet gun restrictions may be coming to Portola Valley in the aftermath of the Aug. 30 shooting death of a pet cat.

The Town Council, at its 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, meeting, is scheduled to discuss an amendment to the firearms ordinance proposed by Mayor Maryann Moise Derwin.

The amendment could add language classifying pellet guns in the same category as more lethal firearms and limiting them to uses such as self defense, authorized hunting, and target practice at "properly constructed" firing ranges.

The amendment is Ms. Derwin's response to the death of Singh Singh, a male Bengal cat wearing a "bright blue collar" that had been a pet in the household of Maryann Raab of Cresta Vista Lane.

The cat died of respiratory failure due to complications associated with the trauma of a single pellet shot, Dr. Bill St. Lawrence of Portola Valley Veterinary Clinic said at the time. The pellet punctured the cat's intestine, its diaphragm and its colon.

Deputies from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office assigned a case number to the incident, but have not reported progress in solving it.


Other topics
The council meets in the Historic Schoolhouse at 765 Portola Road. The pellet gun discussion follows a presentation by AT&T spokesman Randy Okamura about the first phase of new telecommunication services in town.

The council is also set to discuss and may act on a policy regulating the use of the new community hall for class reunions.

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