PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR AN
ANIMAL ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
TO ALLOW FOR
CARETAKING, FEEDING, VACCINATING
AND
TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN OF FREE-ROAMING CATS
THROUGH A MANAGED
PROGRAM IN RATON, NEW MEXICO
PLEASE PROVIDE NAME,
ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, SIGNATURE AND DATE at the bottom of this petition, and
mail to Cat Care Network of Colorado and New Mexico.
Whereas the population
of hundreds of unwanted cats and kittens in our community has been created and
perpetuated by human failure to control the breeding of domestic household cats;
Whereas a process is
needed to allow for caretaking, feeding, trapping, spaying, neutering,
vaccinating and returning free-roaming cats through a program of no-kill cat
population management;
Whereas this process
is an integral part of an overall low-cost, spay-neuter-shots program to reduce
numbers of unwanted cats and dogs in the community, an animal ordinance
amendment shall be adopted and passed by the City Council of Raton, New Mexico.
Section 1: The
following Definitions shall be used:
Colony means one or more free-roaming cats, whether managed or unmanaged.
Colony caretaker means a person who provides food, water, spay-neuter-shots, and/or shelter for free-roaming cats in a managed colony.
Colony caretakers shall not be deemed to be owners or keepers of such animals as these terms are defined in current animal ordinances, Article 1.5.1, and 1.5.7, and shall not be charged with any offence.
Designee means an organization recognized by Animal Control that uses the trap-neuter-return method of stabilizing and reducing the free-roaming cat population.
Free-roaming cat means any homeless, abandoned, stray, feral or undomesticated cat.
Managed colony means a colony of free-roaming cats that is being fed and maintained by a colony caretaker using the trap-neuter-return method to stabilize and reduce the free-roaming cat population.
Section 2: Managed
Free-Roaming Cats:
[A] For the purposes of reducing euthanasia rates at the local animal shelter, humanely reducing the number of unwanted cats and kittens, and better serving the community’s public health and safety concerns, the City of Raton recognizes that individual caretakers and designees may:
[1] Trap any free-roaming cat in a humane manner;
[2] Have the cat surgically sterilized, ear-tipped for identification, and vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian;
[3] Return the cat to the colony caretaker who will maintain the cat as part of a managed colony of free-roaming cats; and/or
[4] Release the cat for adoption if the animal can be successfully socialized, as is the case with kittens and some adults;
[B] Any free-roaming cat impounded by Animal Control that bears an appropriate ear-tipping indicating it belongs to a managed colony must be returned to its managed colony unless disease or injury determines the animal be examined by a veterinarian. No free-roaming cat may be impounded for the purposes of euthanasia, unless a veterinarian makes a determination that disease is an imminent threat to public safety, or injury cannot be treated and healed.
Section 3: Colony Caretaker
Responsibilities
[A] Colony caretakers and the City of Raton, New Mexico, and its designees, shall abide by mutually agreed standard guidelines, regarding the provision of food, water, shelter and veterinary care for cats within the managed colony.
[B] A person who violates this section shall be punished as provided in the general penalty section of the municipal code, provided that the fine imposed for the first violation shall not be less than $50, and fines increase with any additional violations.
[C] A colony caretaker may be removed from management of a managed colony in the case of failure to carry out his responsibilities.
Section 4: Animal Cruelty, Misuse of Humane Traps and
Damage to Caretaker Property
Any person who uses humane traps for purposes of stealing, molesting, poisoning, torturing and/or disposing of and killing cats and other animals, and any person who willfully damages feeding stations, shelters and humane traps used by colony caretakers shall be in violation of this city ordinance amendment and be punished under this ordinance, Article 1.5.5, and other city ordinances, as appropriate.
Section 5: The
provisions of this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after
adoption by the City Council of Raton, New Mexico, and approval of the Mayor.
PLEASE PRINT
Name:_______________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________
Phone:_______________________________________________________________
Signature:_____________________________________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
Please mail to: Cat Care Network, 803 East Main Street,
Trinidad, CO 81082
This petition was prepared in 2007 by Cat Care Network of Colorado and New Mexico and is adapted from Animal Ordinance Amendments adopted in 2002 by Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Phoenix, Arizona, and in 2006 by City Council of Lawrence, Indiana.