The Jefferson City Council recently took its first official step toward a solution to its feral cat population.
The Council approved the first reading to amend its animal control ordinance by adding language for feral cat colonies. The proposed additions include identifying feral cat colonies, where those who are deemed as caretakers are responsible for caring, feeding, and sheltering feral cats, along with implementing a Trap-Neuter-Release program (TNR), which Jefferson Mayor Matt Gordon says the city is willing to pay to have cats go through the TNR program.
Council member Matt Wetrich brought up some concerns during the discussion at the most recent meeting this past Tuesday.
“We’ve talked about some accountability on this, with the colony caretakers and I’d really like to button up on what that looks like, as far as how are we are getting reports, the validity of them. Because right now it feels little bit pie in the sky as far as ‘We’re going to get reports.’ I think it’s really important that if we are going to do this that the area where the colonies are that the local people in that area need to be well aware and understand that there’s an effort being put forth.”
Gordon says the cat committee is reviewing those concerns and developing plans to address them. He points out a key organization that will help carry out the TNR program.
“We’re working with P.A.W.S. (People for Animal Welfare Society) and P.A.W.S. is primarily taking over that aspect of it (TNR). They’re already done 50 cats in the past. So I just don’t really know a whole lot about it. So we’re relying on P.A.W.S. very heavily to be a part of this as a partnership.”
The Council voted unanimously for the first of three required readings of the ordinance on Tuesday. Click the link below to see the proposed ordinance changes.