[Ord. No. 2932 §F, 5-19-2015]
Definitions of terms used in this article include the following:
EAR-TIPPING
Straight-line cutting off the tip of the left ear of a feral cat while the cat is anesthetized.
FERAL CAT
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.
FERAL CAT CARETAKER
Any person who provides food, water or shelter to or otherwise cares for a colony of cats in a managed colony.
FERAL CAT 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.
FERAL CAT COLONY SPONSOR
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
e. 
Report annually to the City on the following:
(1) 
Number of colonies in the City;
(2) 
Total number of cats in colonies;
(3) 
Number of cats and kittens spayed and neutered pursuant to the program; and
(4) 
Overall effectiveness of the feral cat program.
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.