(A) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the process hereinafter referred to as trap-neuter-return is the preferred approach for managing the city's free-roaming cat population.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
“COMMUNITY CAT.” A member of the domestic species Felis Catus and shall mean a free-roaming cat who may be cared for by one or more residents of the immediate area who is/are known or unknown; a community cat may or may not be feral. Community cats are not wildlife.
“COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER.” A person who, in accordance with and pursuant to the policy of trap-neuter-return described herein, provides care, including food, shelter or medical care to a community cat while not being considered the owner, harborer, controller, or keeper of the community cat.
“EARTIPPING.” The removal of the distal one-quarter of a community cat's left ear which is approximately 3/8-inch, or 1 centimeter, in an adult, and proportionately smaller in a kitten. This procedure is performed under sterile conditions while the cat is under anesthesia, in compliance with any applicable federal or state law, and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Eartips are designed to identify a community cat as being sterilized and lawfully vaccinated for rabies.
“TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN.” The process of humanely trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, eartipping, and returning community cats to their original location.
(C) Permitted acts. The following actions shall be permitted in the city as part 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 veterinarian care is required.
(3) Community cat caregivers are empowered to reclaim impounded community cats without proof of ownership solely for the purpose of conducting trap-neuter-return and/or returning eartipped community cats to their original locations.
(4) A person who returns a community cat to its original location while conducting trap-neuter-return is not deemed to have abandoned the cat.
(5) Trap-neuter-return shall be the preferred disposition for impounded community cats.
(Ord. 22-C-21, passed 11-9-21)