(A) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
COMMUNITY CAT. A cat that is abandoned, stray, lost, or feral and that may be cared for by a community cat caregiver, specifically appointed community group, or their approved representatives.
COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER. A person who, is approved by and in accordance with the policy of appointed community group, provides care, including, food, shelter, or medical care to a community cat, while not being considered the owner, harborer, controller, or keeper of a community cat.
EARTIPPING. The removal of the one-quarter inch tip of a community cat's left ear, performed while the cat is under anesthesia, in compliance with any applicable federal or state law, and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, designed to identify the community cat as being sterilized and lawfully vaccinated for rabies.
TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN (TNR). The process of humanely trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, eartipping, and returning community cats to their original location.
(B) Permitted acts. The following actions shall be permitted in the Village of Dennison, specifically allowing appointed community group, to pursue the process of trap-neuter-return:
(1) Trapping, for the sole purpose of sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, and eartipping community cats, in compliance with any applicable federal or state law, and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, where applicable.
(2) An eartipped cat received by local shelters will be returned to the location where trapped unless veterinary care is required. A trapped eartipped cat will be released on site unless veterinary care is required.
(3) Community cat caregivers are empowered to reclaim impounded community cats without proof of ownership solely for the purpose of the implementation of the process of trap-neuter-return as more particularly provided in this section.
(4) Appointed community group, will provide to the Dennison Police Department a list of representatives (trapper, caregiver) who are approved by appointed community group. The list must be updated by appointed community group whenever any change is made to the current submitted list.
(5) A current copy of appointed community group Internal Revenue Service Employee Identification Number (EIN) and a copy of appointed community group charter and bylaws will be submitted to and kept in the Village of Dennison Mayor's Office.
(6) Every approved appointed community group representative, when performing in a TNR or community cat caregiver function, must have written permission from the landowner on their person.
(Ord. 2790, passed 3-14-2022)