[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
Definitions of terms used in this article include the following:
Straight-line cutting off the tip of the left ear of a feral
cat while the cat is anesthetized.
A cat that exists in a wild or untamed state, either due
to birth or reversion to a wild state from domestication. The usual
and consistent temperament ranges from extreme fear to resistance
to physical contact with humans.
Any person who provides food, water or shelter to or otherwise
cares for a colony of cats in a managed colony.
A group of cats that congregates, more or less, together
as a unit. Although not every cat in a colony may be feral, any non-feral
cats that congregate with a colony are considered part of it.
Any organization who assumes responsibility for administering the managed care of feral cats and who is meets the criteria outlined in Section 205.381 below, and as approved by the City Code Enforcement and Animal Control Officer.
[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
The City's Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer (City) shall approve any feral cat colony sponsors (sponsor) allowed under this Code. The City shall at a minimum require any sponsor to meet the requirements found under Section 205.420 of this Code.
[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
Any feral cat impounded by Animal Control that bears an appropriate
ear-tipping indicating it belongs to a managed colony may be, at the
discretion of the Animal Control Officer, returned to the colony unless
the animal is a known nuisance or shows visible signs of illness or
injury and presents an imminent danger to public health or safety.
[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
Feral cat colony Caretakers shall make every reasonable effort
to provide for booster rabies vaccines to be given to all applicable
cats in the colony beginning one year after the initial vaccine has
been administered.
[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
A.
The limitation on the number of cats owned, kept, held, or harbored
shall not apply to caretakers of feral cat colonies that have registered
such colony with an appropriate sponsor. Registration shall include
name and address of the caretaker(s), and the location of the colony.
A feral cat colony may be registered when the volunteer caretaker
can assure that:
1.
Regular feeding of the colony will be maintained throughout
the year.
2.
Adult cats and kittens that can be captured will be neutered
or spayed and vaccinated against rabies.
3.
Every attempt will be made to remove kittens from the colony
before they reach the age of eight (8) weeks for domestication and
placement.
4.
Sick or injured cats will be removed from the colony for immediate
veterinarian care or humane euthanasia.
B.
Feral cat colonies shall be permitted and feral cat caretakers shall
be allowed to maintain and care for feral cats by providing food,
water, shelter, and other forms of sustenance provided that the feral
colonies are registered with an appropriate sponsor.
C.
Feral Cat Caretaker Responsibilities: In order to
be approved and operate as a managed feral cat caretaker, said caretakers
shall be responsible for the following:
1.
Registering the colony with an appropriate sponsor.
2.
Taking all appropriate and available steps to vaccinate the
colony population for rabies and making a reasonable effort to update
the vaccinations on cats that can be recaptured.
3.
Taking all appropriate and available steps to have the colony
population spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian with a goal
of at least eighty percent (80%) of the colony population altered.
4.
Ear-tipping the left ear of a colony cat that has been vaccinated
and spayed or neutered so that the colony cats can be readily identified
from a distance.
5.
Keeping records of all cats in colony including, physical descriptions
and providing the sponsor with evidence of cats that have been vaccinated
and spayed/neutered. These records must be provided to an appropriate
sponsor at least quarterly.
6.
Providing on a consistent basis food, water and if feasible,
sufficient shelter for the colony.
7.
Obtaining proper medical attention for any colony cat that appears
to require it.
8.
Regularly monitoring the colony to identify new arrivals and
record illnesses or behavior changes of any cat in the colony.
[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
A.
Sponsorship of a feral cat colony is authorized by the City of Pacific.
Sponsors may apply to the City to serve as feral cat colony sponsors
so long as said persons agree to perform the responsibilities stated
in this Article.
1.
Sponsors of feral cat colonies must register with the City's
Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer, and meet the following criteria.
2.
Sponsors shall hold any required licenses of the City of Pacific,
or the State of Missouri unless it is a bona fide charitable organization
recognized by the State or Federal Government.
3.
Sponsors shall provide proof to City in the form of a certificate
of insurance, of its public general liability and workers compensation
insurance as required.
4.
It shall be the duty of the sponsor to:
a.
Review and approve colony Caretakers;
b.
Properly train caretakers in responsibilities for caring for
a feral cat or colony;
c.
Help to resolve any complaints over the conduct of a colony
caretaker or of cats within a colony;
d.
Maintain records provided by colony caretakers on the size and
location of the colonies as well as the vaccination and spay/neuter
records of cats in the sponsor's colonies; and
5.
Number of cats and kittens placed in permanent homes.
[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
The City of Pacific shall have, in addition to any other rights
currently available or that may exist in the future, the following
specific rights.
A.
The right to seize or remove cats from a colony that have not been
vaccinated against rabies and which are demonstrating signs of the
disease.
B.
The right to seize/remove a cat from a colony that is creating a
nuisance and the caretaker and sponsor have been given fifteen (15)
days to remove and relocate the cat and have failed to do so.
C.
The right to seize/remove a colony of cats when the caretaker regularly
fails to comply with the requirements of this Article and the sponsor
has not been able to obtain a replacement or substitute caretaker
within fifteen (15) days of the City's notice to the sponsor
of the caretaker's failure to comply with this Article.
[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
The return of an altered feral cat to a managed colony where
food, shelter, and monitoring are provided on a regular basis does
not constitute abandonment within the meaning of this Article.
