[Adopted 4-3-2012 by Ord. No. 12-2012]
A.
Pursuant to its police powers, the municipality has an obligation
to effective and humanely control feral cat populations within the
boundaries of the municipality.
B.
The governing body of the municipality believes that it is in the
interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens
of the community to institute a trap, neuter and return program (TNR)
in an effort to reduce the feral cat population within the community
over time without the necessity of wholesale capture and euthanasia.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A certified municipal animal control officer, or in the absence
of such an officer, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality
or his designee.
The person appointed annually by the governing body of the
municipality to maintain records of feral cats, to recommend caregivers
and to perform such duties authorized by these regulations.
A volunteer and uncompensated person who agrees to serve
to facilitate the TNR Program within the municipality in accordance
with the regulations set forth herein. A caregiver shall not be deemed
an employee of the municipality and shall hold such volunteer position
at the pleasure of the governing body. A caregiver may be removed
from or precluded from holding such volunteer position in the sole
discretion of the governing body of the municipality.
The marking of a cat's ear through a surgical procedure performed
by qualified personnel.
Any stray cat roaming at large without a collar identifying
the owner.
A.
A trap, neuter and return program is hereby established within the
municipality in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth
herein.
B.
No person shall allow any cat to roam free within the municipality
without a collar identifying the owner, unless the cat is part of
the trap, neuter and return program.
C.
No person shall allow any cat to roam free in a manner to enter upon
any public lands restricted for such use by federal, state or local
agencies or authorities.
D.
No person shall abandon any cat within the municipality.
Each feral cat colony shall be registered by the caregivers
with the municipal animal coordinator. The animal coordinator shall
serve as a clearing house for information on current caregivers, education
for new caregivers, and assistance for persons found in violation
of these regulations.
Ear tipping shall be used on feral cats in order to identify
the cats as spayed or neutered and vaccinated as a member of a managed
colony.
Caregivers of feral cat colonies shall implement proper management
and sterilization practices, and shall seek the assistance of the
Animal Control Officer or the animal coordinator as follows:
A.
Sterilize (spay/neuter) all adult cats that can be captured.
B.
Vaccinate, as required by law, all cats that can be captured against
rabies, preferably with a three-year vaccine together with any other
infectious disease as mandated by law.
C.
Make every attempt to remove kittens from the colony before eight
weeks of age for domestication and placement.
D.
Make every attempt to remove sick or injured cats from the colony
for immediate veterinarian care or humane euthanasia.
E.
Assume responsibility and arrangements for feeding the cat colony
regularly throughout the year, including weekends, holidays and vacations
of the feral cat caregiver. Feeding on the caregiver's property of
feral cats managed by such caregiver shall not constitute a violation
of these regulations.
F.
All reasonable efforts shall be made to "ear tip" all cats within
a colony with a single cut preferably on the left ear and arrange
for the implantation of an identification microchip. If this is not
practicable under the circumstances, photographic documentation adequate
to identify the cat shall be obtained.
G.
Maintain proof of sterilization, vaccination, ear tipping and implantation
of microchip and medical records for all cats. These records must
be provided to the animal coordinator upon request.
H.
Register the feral cat colony with the animal coordinator for the
municipality.
I.
Execute all documents required by the municipality pursuant to the
regulations set forth herein or administrative rules and regulations
adopted by the Commissioner in charge.
No feral cat colony shall be permitted to be established within
any area designated by federal or state agencies as areas reserved
for protected or endangered species of birds or other wildlife, or
in any federal, state or local designated park or preserve utilized
for recreation.
The Commissioner in charge of the department of government under
which the feral cat program will be administered shall have the authority
to adopt administrative rules and regulations to further implement
the TNR Program so long as they are not inconsistent with the rules
and regulations set forth herein.
A.
Any person or caregiver determined to be in violation of these regulations
shall be issued a written warning and be allowed a period of time
in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer, but not longer than
90 days, to come into compliance or provide satisfactory evidence
of working to achieve compliance.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 8-30, Sunset provision,
was repealed 11-4-2013 by Ord. No. 30-2013.
