News
Victory for Ferals
November 26, 2007, 11:48PM MT
By Jennifer S Hayes
Round Rock legalizes trap, neuter, release.
Round Rock legalizes trap, neuter, release.
By Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Network
Round Rock, Texas was recently determined to be the 13th safest city in the United States. The same level of security has now been given to their feral cats, since the City Council unanimously passed a new ordinance amendment that legalizes trap, neuter and release (TNR).
Thanks to long-term communications between Round Rock City Manager Jim Nuse, Animal Control, and are feral cat organizations, the presentation went smoothly and met with success. To assist the council in adopting this change, the group had formed a plan that included stipulations, including managers of colonies must be associated with an approved 501(c)(3), animal control must be informed of colony locations and population data, and all cats that have undergone TNR must be vaccinated and microchipped. If a colony cat is deemed to be a “public nuisance,” he or she must be removed from city limits by the Colony Manager or taken to the animal shelter.
During the time allotted for public comment, Alan McGraw, Mayor Pro-tem, expressed concerns about people dumping cats in Round Rock from other cities and giving Colony Managers control of the colony, as opposed to animal control. McGraw and the council were reassured that feral colonies themselves generally keep new cats out of their territory and that city animal control will still remain the rights to pick up animals deemed to be a nuisance. However, any ear tipped ferals obtained by animal control will be returned to the appropriate non-profit organization. Donna Powell, Founder of Street Cat Rescue, states “We’re here to alleviate some of the burden on animal control, not replace animal control.”
Since only two TNR organizations are located in Round Rock, additional volunteers will be needed to care for the cats and to educate the community about TNR, so that the whole city is accommodated. Powell says “It’s a community problem and it will be the community who solves it.” In addition, the city stated they are in discussion with the local animal shelter to work on the costs that will be associated with microchipping the ferals.
The meeting provided an educational experience for the council and they plan to review the ordinance annually. “Trap, neuter and return is now a recognized and legal alternative to trap and euthanize and we are very happy that the humane treatment and care of feral cats in Round Rock is now decriminalized,” says Shadow Cats Founder and President Sheila Smith, “The work will now begin…”
For more information:
• Video of the Round Rock City Council Meeting, look to 9A1
• Shadow Cats
• Street Cat Rescue
• Feral Cat Resources
How you can help:
• Support feral cat organizations, such as Shadow Cats and Street Cat Rescue. In addition to the medical costs incurred and supplies needed, such as live traps and carriers, they also supply food for the colonies they manage. Street Cat Rescue will soon be selling a Frankie’s Friends Memorial Calendar and Shadow Cats is having a Sanctuary Open House on Saturday, Dec. 1.
• For those who live in the Round Rock/Austin area, the Austin Humane Society offers a FREE spay/neuter program for feral cats two days a week. Not only do they provide the surgery, but also ear tipping, a rabies vaccination, flea preventative, a penicillin injection, and pain relief medication – at no charge. Other low-cost local resources that provide spay/neuter surgeries for ferals are EmanciPET and Animal Trustees of Austin.
• Volunteer trappers and colony managers are always needed. Both Shadow Cats and the Austin Humane Society currently offer trapping classes and Street Cat Rescue will offer classes shortly.
Photo credit: taken by Jennifer Hayes (note: the left ear is tipped, so that he may be identified as a sterilized feral or former feral cat)