A notice for Jefferson residents of a service being suspended regarding live traps in town.

The Police Department announced that effective immediately, the department will no longer offer live traps for residents and the department will not remove any animal from privately-owned traps.

Jefferson’s ordinance number 55.21 states a citizen could request a live trap from the police department and be placed on their property, under the supervision of a police officer, if the citizen believes there is a cat or other small animal running at large or trespassing on their property. The citizen would then notify the police department when an animal is in the trap and the officer “shall pick up the trap and animal. If the trapped animal is a feral cat, it shall be humanely destroyed.”

At the recent City Council meeting, Mayor Craig Berry said he met with the police department, Linn Price with Animal Protection and Education Charity, and Scott Wilson from the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines about concerns with the City’s policy on feral cats. It was noted at the City Council meeting to implement a spay-neuter-release program, utilized in cities like Boone and Panora. Berry said at the meeting that policy changes could take about 18-months to complete.

Berry tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the City is reviewing all of its animal ordinances. The City is also partnering with the ARL as a resource in this matter. The service that the City provided for live traps will no longer be offered until revisions are done to the ordinance. Berry thanks everyone for their patience with this change. He adds that the City is in the process of obtaining a larger cat holding area and it is expected to be in operation soon.