HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Workshop_Tab 02_10/17/2012 C����Y:c�� s� �J9�.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
l 111 Hypoluaco Road, Suite 207
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JOHIV CORBEI"T TELEPHONE (561) 586-7116
TRELA J. VVHITE TELECOPIER (561) 586-9611
BRADLEY W. BIGGS'^
KEITH W. DAVIS• • Boazd Certified in City, County and Local Govemment Law
R. MAX LOI�IMAN ^ State Certified County and Circuit Court Mediator
ABIGAIL FORRESTER JORANDBY *'AICP, LEED AP
JENNIFER GARDNER ASHTON
ERIN L. DEADX, P.A., Of Counsel'*
TO: Village Manager Michael Couzzo
FROM: Village Attorney Keith W. Da�is, Esq.
DATE: October 15, 2012
RE: Feral Cats
As you are aware, during its October 11, 2012 meeting, the Village Council briefly discussed
the issue of feral cats within the Village. I have prepared this memorandum to update you and
the Council on realistic options for dealing with this issue in advance of the October 17, 2012
workshop.
1. Fera1 cats are defined as cats that "have no apparent owner or identification and are
apparently wild, untamed, unsocialized, unmanageable, and unable to be approached or
handled." See Padm Beach County Animal Care and Control Ordinance 98-22.
2. In response to the ever-growing feral cat populations, Tra.p, Neuter and Release (TNR)
programs have been esta.blished nation-wide and are largely accepted as the most
efficient and humane way of controlling feral cat populations.
3. Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control offers a T'NR program. In order to
participate, residents can voluntarily trap feral cats and bring them to the Animal Care
and Control facility in order for the cats to be spayed or neutered. The cost to the
resident is twenty-five ($25.00). In addition to being spayed/neutered, the cats are also
microchiped, notched on the left ear and given a rabies shot. This service is offered
county-wide but requires voluntary resident action in order to trap the feral cat and
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coordina.te with Animal Care and Control for the surgery. Due to budget restraints, Palm
Beach County Animal Care and Control does not trap feral cats on its own. The local
non-profit Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League has traps available for individual
resident volunteers to rent or purchase.
4. Nota.bly, the Town of Palm Beach has implemented its own feral cat program. The Town
code prohibits the feeding of any stray anima.l except by authorized personnel. The Town
employs three (3) individuals and a veterinarian in order to monitor and feed the feral cat
colonies on the Island. Feeding sta.tions have been established throughout the Island and
registered feral cats are identified by the notching of the left ear. Roughly twenty-two
(22) volunteers assist in the feeding regimen. A hotline is available for residents to report
new feral cat sightings whereby employees are then sent to trap the cat in order to have it
neutered and eventually released back to the colony. The average cost of the program is
roughly Two Hundred a.nd Fifly Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) per year. A violation of
the Palm Beach Code is processed through the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate.
5. Similarly, Palm Beach County code pmhibits the feeding or care of feral cats, unless such
cats have been processed through the TNR program and/or are part of a registered feral
cat colony. In order to register a colony with the county, all cats associated therewith
rnust be processed through the TNR program.
6. Currently, the Village has no code to address the handling of fera.l cats. Short of
dedicating the resources to create its own feral cat program, it is recommendecl that the
Village adopt a feral cat code that encourages voluntary resident participation in the
county TNR program, prohibits the feeding or care of feral cats unless such cats and
colonies have been registered with Palm Beach County as explained above, and provides
for penalties and enforcement through the Village's code enforcement process.
Should you have any other questions regarding this ma.tter, please do not hesitate to call.
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