(A) In order to permit implementation of a community cat program (CCP) in the city for the purpose of reducing the population of feral and free roaming cats, benefitting public health, improving the quality of life for residents, and ensuring the humane treatment of community cats, the following requirements are hereby imposed in the city:
(1) All community cats must be cared for on the private property of the caregiver or with the permission from the owner or property manager if cared for on the property of another.
(2) All community cat caregivers shall make reasonable efforts to have all free-roaming cats within their care sterilized, vaccinated against rabies, and ear-tipped for easy identification.
(3) All community cat caregivers are required to make reasonable efforts to provide certain necessities to each community cat under his/her care on a regular/ongoing basis, including, but not limited to, proper nutrition, adequate quantities of visibly clean and fresh water and medical care as needed. If medical care is unavailable or too expensive, the community cat caregiver must not allow the cat to suffer. Dumping on the ground or dispensing large quantities of food more than will be immediately eaten by the community cats present is prohibited. Feeding areas must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
(4) Community cat caregivers shall make reasonable attempts to remove young kittens from the field for domestication.
(B) The Animal Control Officer shall have the right to remove or authorize the removal of any free-roaming cat or community cat because of immediate public health or safety concerns.
(C) No community cat shall be released at any governmentally owned or managed park, natural area, area deemed as environmentally sensitive land or on any easement adjacent to such lands without approval from the Animal Control Officer.
(D) Healthy community cats that have been impounded by the Animal Control Officer are exempt from any holding period under § 90.05 of this Code and shall be immediately returned to the location at which they were found or released to a caregiver, community cats shall be sterilized, ear tipped while under anesthesia under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, and vaccinated for rabies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever such cat is visibly injured or diseased and appears to be suffering and it reasonably appears that such cat cannot be expeditiously cured and returned to the field, transferred to a humane society or private animal nonprofit organization or placed in foster care, then the Animal Control Officer, acting in good faith and upon reasonable belief, may humanely euthanize the cat upon the advice of a licensed veterinarian.
(E) Community cats released to a caregiver in accordance with division (D) of this section shall not be subject to the requirements of § 90.05 of this Code.
(F) Community cat caregivers shall not be subject to the provisions of § 90.06(N) of this Code, provided that permission from the property owner has been obtained to care for community cats on the property.
(Ord. 8118-2017, passed 11-6-2017) Penalty, see § 90.99