[Ord. No. 2026-998, 6-3-2026]
A. 
For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
COMMUNITY CAT
Is a member of the domestic species Felis Catus and shall mean a free-roaming cat who may be cared for by one (1) or more residents of the immediate area who is/are known or unknown. Community cats are not wildlife.
COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER
Shall mean a person who, in accordance with and pursuant to a policy of Trap-Neuter-Return, provides care, including, food, shelter or medical care to a community cat, while not being considered the owner, harborer, controller, or keeper of a community cat.
EARTIPPING
Shall mean the removal of the distal one-quarter (1/4) of a feral or community cat's left ear, which is approximately 3/8-inch, or one (1) cm, in an adult and proportionally smaller in a kitten. This procedure is performed under sterile conditions while the cat is under anesthesia, in compliance with any applicable Federal or State law, and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Eartips are designed to identify a community cat as being sterilized and lawfully vaccinated for rabies.
FERAL
Shall mean any cat of any breed that is or becomes undomesticated, untamed, or wild. It is a cat that has not been sterilized, eartipped, and lawfully vaccinated for rabies.
TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN
Shall mean the process of humanely trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, eartipping, and returning community cats to their original location.
[Ord. No. 2026-998, 6-3-2026]
A. 
The following actions shall be permitted in the City of Byrnes Mill as part of Trap-Neuter-Return:
1. 
Trapping, for the sole purpose of sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, and eartipping feral or community cats, in compliance with any applicable Federal or State law, and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, where applicable.
2. 
An eartipped cat received by local shelters will be returned to the location where they are trapped unless veterinary care is required. A trapped eartipped cat will be released on site unless veterinary care is required
3. 
Community cat caregivers are empowered to reclaim impounded community cats without proof of ownership solely for the purpose of carrying out Trap-Neuter-Return and/or returning eartipped community cats to their original locations.
4. 
A person who returns a community cat to its original location while conducting Trap-Neuter-Return is not deemed to have abandoned the cat.
5. 
Trap-Neuter-Return shall be the preferred disposition for impounded community cats. Byrnes Mill Police and the local shelter are authorized and encouraged to conduct Trap-Neuter-Return or to direct impounded community cats to a Trap-Neuter-Return program.
[Ord. No. 2026-998, 6-3-2026]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally feed or provide food or water to feral cats within the City limits of the City of Byrnes Mill, except as specifically provided under Subsection (B) of this Section.
B. 
No food or water intended for feral cats shall be placed outdoors on public or private property in a manner that is accessible to feral cats.
C. 
Exceptions. Property owners may temporarily feed a feral cat, for a period not to exceed five (5) consecutive days for the purpose of trapping it for Trap-Neuter-Return under Subsection (B). Feeding longer than five (5) consecutive days requires approval from the Byrnes Mill Police Department.
[Ord. No. 2026-998, 6-3-2026]
A. 
Any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be subject to the following:
1. 
First offense: Warning and educational materials will be provided.
2. 
Second offense: Fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
3. 
Third and subsequent offenses: Fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per offense.
4. 
Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.