STRASBURG (WJER) (Jan. 25, 2024) – Stray cats stay a sizzling matter within the village as officers strive to determine tips on how to handle their numbers.
Objections from residents and TNR advocates brought on council to desk a proposal that might have made it unlawful to feed feral cats and different wildlife. Solicitor Terry Seeberger re-introduced the proposed ban Wednesday night with an exemption for cats which can be trapped, neutered, and returned by the Tuscarawas County TNR Project or comparable operation.
“We do have a proposed section that would be ‘management of feral cats permitted acts’ that largely tracks the Dover ordinance.”
While topic to vary, the present plan would make it a misdemeanor offense for anybody apart from designated caretakers to supply meals or shelter to stray cats on public property or inside 100 ft of any personal residence. The TNR Project helps handle the cats in Dover, New Phila, and the Twin Cities, however leaders say they gained’t broaden the operation into any neighborhood that criminalizes feeding.
“I understand your feelings but if you put an obstacle in my way, I’m not coming here to work,” mentioned President and co-founder Marilyn Grafe. “I don’t have a gazillion dollars to spend, so I’m going to spend it on the cats that are going to have the best quality of life afterwards.”
Officials are attempting to deal with recent complaints from property homeowners about cats spraying and inflicting different issues. South Wooster Avenue resident Barry Biechler says he’s uninterested in their messes.
“If the cat people are so fired about this, why don’t they all go together and buy or rent a building in town and have a cat shelter instead of people trying to do this at their homes?”
Council members can nonetheless request revisions to the proposal, which is scheduled for an additional studying on the February sixth assembly and a doable vote two weeks later.
