S. ORDINANCE 20-2025 - AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, updating various sections of Chapter 505 Animals and Fowl of the Lakewood Codified Ordinances and creating regulations for trap, neuter/spay and release of community cats within the City of Lakewood. (1st read & referred to PS 05/19/25; 2nd reading 6/2/25)
I am opposed to how this ordinance is currently being proposed to be written. It is unnecessary and burdensome to require trappers to register with and undergo training. This type of mandate hinders efforts and can be detrimental to the cats Caregivers care for. Trapping is part of Community Cat Caregiving, and requiring them to register hinders efforts to get cats the medical care they may need, whether they are established at a colony or they are a new stray. Alley Cat Allies notes this as one of the worst mandates that can be included in an ordinance. Training is also not necessary, nor is there any certified standard. Alley Cat Allies provides a free step-by-step guide to TNR that is downloadable from their website for free. Requiring training is not necessary, nor is it necessary to mandate TNR practices that would be included in training. Alley Cat Allies suggests ordinances surrounding TNR should be simple and focus on the City's support for a TNR program. This feels like the City does NOT support a TNR program even though it is proven to be the most humane and effective way to control outdoor community cat populations. Alley Cat Allies provided assistance to Sebring, OH's ordinance in 2016, and it is simple and effective. A copy of it is on their website and I believe we should model our ordinance after theirs or use the template model provided on Alley Cat Allies's website.
I am opposed to how this ordinance is currently being proposed to be written. It is unnecessary and burdensome to require trappers to register with and undergo training. This type of mandate hinders efforts and can be detrimental to the cats Caregivers care for. Trapping is part of Community Cat Caregiving, and requiring them to register hinders efforts to get cats the medical care they may need, whether they are established at a colony or they are a new stray. Alley Cat Allies notes this as one of the worst mandates that can be included in an ordinance. Training is also not necessary, nor is there any certified standard. Alley Cat Allies provides a free step-by-step guide to TNR that is downloadable from their website for free. Requiring training is not necessary, nor is it necessary to mandate TNR practices that would be included in training. Alley Cat Allies suggests ordinances surrounding TNR should be simple and focus on the City's support for a TNR program. This feels like the City does NOT support a TNR program even though it is proven to be the most humane and effective way to control outdoor community cat populations. Alley Cat Allies provided assistance to Sebring, OH's ordinance in 2016, and it is simple and effective. A copy of it is on their website and I believe we should model our ordinance after theirs or use the template model provided on Alley Cat Allies's website.