Any cat or dog, whose owner is unknown and impounded or surrendered
pursuant to this chapter shall be neutered and vaccinated for rabies
prior to adoption. Any feral cat impounded or captured pursuant to
this chapter shall be neutered, eartipped, and vaccinated for rabies
prior to TNR or TRR.
The town may, at its option participate in animal population
control measures such as entering into agreements for the creation
of or participation with spay/neuter clinics, community associations,
neighborhood canvassing, and other means to protect public health
and safety and to reduce the population of unwanted pets and their
offspring.
A.
The town finds that a properly managed cat colony is a humane means
to reduce an unwanted and/or unhealthy cat population over a period
of time only when management guidelines are set forth and strictly
adhered to.
C.
The Animal Control Officer shall inspect any cat colony location
and approve or deny its development or maintenance. As a part of the
maintenance of the cat colony, the caretaker shall agree to:
(1)
Provide an assessment of the situation—number of cats, health
of cats, suitability of location, impact on neighbors;
(2)
Set up regular feeding schedules;
(3)
A plan for which cats will remain on site;
(4)
Arrange for veterinary care;
(5)
Have a trapping plan approved by the Animal Control Officer;
(6)
Have a placement plan approved by the Animal Control Officer for
kittens and tame resocialized adult cats in appropriate adoption venues
(eight to nine weeks for kittens);
(8)
Have a plan approved by the Animal Control Officer for ongoing maintenance
of the colony—food, water, shelter, trapping new cats, removal
of ill or injured cats for veterinary evaluation and care.
Any person undertaking the duties and responsibilities of a
cat colony caretaker shall first be registered with the town at no
cost. A registered caretaker shall not be considered an owner in or
be subject to regulations governing ownership or control of an animal,
except as specifically defined in this chapter.
Any trap used to capture stray dogs or cats shall be constructed
in a manner that does not harm the animal.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use inhumane methods
to capture stray dogs or cats. Traps and the trapping of stray dogs
or cats shall include the following:
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon a cat, dog or
other animal covered by this chapter except in connection with a TNR
program.
The practice of trapping cats and/or dogs for the purpose of
euthanizing the animal shall be unlawful except in cases of serious
disease or injury as determined by a licensed veterinarian. Further,
it shall be unlawful to employ or to be employed for the express purpose
of trapping and killing free-roaming cats and dogs as a means to eliminate
a nuisance. This section shall not prohibit an Animal Control Officer
or police officer from carrying out their lawful duties as otherwise
specifically permitted under this chapter.
It shall be unlawful to establish or maintain a sanctuary for
feral, stray or abandoned animals within the town, except if and where
allowed by Zoning Ordinance.
