SECTION 6.04.030 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF WICHITA, KANSAS, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

AN ORDINANCE CREATING SECTION 6.04.030 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF WICHITA, KANSAS, PERTAINING TO ABANDONED CATS.

Animal Advisory Board March 26, 2019

Background

• What is TNR? Trap-Neuter-Return
• TNR is a method of reducing outdoor cat

populations by capturing them, providing spay/neuter services, and returning them to their environment.

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Background

• A TNR Committee was developed in 2015 by the Animal Advisory

Board to look into developing a standard within the City.

• A December 2017 community survey found:
• 20.63% of respondents felt that feral cats were a nuisance in their

neighborhood.

• 64.41% of respondents felt that the City should take an active role in

assisting neighborhoods with this issue.

• 48.56% felt that the most pressing issue for Animal Control was to reduce

the euthanasia rate at the shelter.

Background

• The committee put together a proposed ordinance and presented it to

the Animal Advisory Board in April 2018. The committee presented a draft ordinance to the Board. The Board discussed this at several meetings and received significant public comment. A final draft

• rdinance was developed and provided to the Police Department.
• The Police Department formed an internal committee to review the
• rdinance and ensure applicability and enforceability.

Purpose of Ordinance

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“The City

• f

Wichita recognizes the need for innovation in addressing the issues presented by feral, free-roaming cats. To that end, it recognizes that a trap neuter-return (TNR) program is a viable

• ption

to manage and,

• ver

time, reduce the population

• f

community cats; thus, reducing the number of cats entering the shelter system and being euthanized. The program relies upon volunteer caregivers to trap free-roaming cats to be spayed/neutered/vaccinated for rabies/ear-tipped, and then returned to the location where the cats were originally trapped, with the property owner’s permission, or to an alternate location.”

Ordinance Highlights

• Creation of TNR ordinance to address the over population of cats.
• Create definition of Feral and Community cats and other specific subject

matter terms, i.e.:

• Feral Cat…..one that is unsocialized to humans and has a temperament of

extreme fear of and resistance to contact with humans.

• Community Cat…..means any ear-tipped feral cat that may be cared for by a

designated caregiver in the immediate area: community cats are not domesticated.

• Caregiver guidelines for feeding, watering and care.

Ordinance Highlights

• Mandated registration of cat colonies
• Annual reporting requirements
• Applicable enforcement by Animal Services if warranted

Benefits of Ordinance Changes

• Community-centric approach to solving the issue as
• pposed to government focused.
• Reduction of intake numbers of cats at the shelter

with an ultimate goal of reducing euthanasia in regards to cats. The current reduction is 25%; a significant decrease from 66% in 2013.

Recommendation

• Place the ordinance on first reading and authorize the

necessary signatures.

• Questions?

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AN ORDINANCE CREATING SECTION 6.04.030 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF WICHITA, KANSAS, PERTAINING TO ABANDONED CATS.