(A) 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 cat that is abandoned, stray, lost, or feral, and cared for by a community cat caregiver pursuant to this section.
COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER. A person who, in accordance with and pursuant to a policy of trap-neuter-return, 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.
EAR TIPPING. The removal of the one-fourth 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 license veterinarian, designed to identify the community cat as being sterilized and lawfully vaccinated for rabies.
TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN. The process of humanely trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, ear tipping and returning community cats to their original location.
(B) Permitted acts. The following actions shall be permitted in the city in pursuance of a process of trap-neuter-return:
(1) Trapping for the sole purpose of sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies and ear tipping community cats, in compliance with any applicable federal or state law and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, where applicable;
(2) An ear-tipped cat received by local shelters will be returned to the location where trapped unless veterinary care is required. A trapped, ear-tipped cat will be released on-site unless veterinary care is required; and
(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.
(Ord. 17-006, passed 9-17-2017)