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13 <br />Animal Services staff who would be responsible for offering vouchers to such <br />owners in accordance with the approved guidelines. <br />c. Feral Cats <br />In 2009, 30 percent of all cats (n=273) euthanized were feral- that is, cats <br />without the kind of socialization that makes them associate and bond with <br />humans. The number of feral cats in our community and their euthanasia has <br />increasingly become a concern in the field of animal welfare and in regard to <br />targeted spay and neuter. Yet feral cats present especially challenging issues for <br />public policy and an informed and rational approach will require considerable <br />effort and attention. Nevertheless, it is agreed that the following are reasonable <br />components of this strategic plan: <br />i. Consider public/private partnerships with nonprofit feral cat rescue groups that <br />have programs such as Trap Neuter Release (TNR) in place.8 This may <br />include establishing pilot programs or providing some kind of general support <br />and consideration. <br />ii. Make appropriate ordinance amendments for the keeping of feral cats and/or <br />the management of colonies of feral cats and as would be needed for the <br />creation of public/private partnerships. <br />C. Legislation- Legislative changes will be required in order to begin or implement <br />certain activities known to promote the targeted spaying and neutering of animal <br />companions. As staff and citizen advisors keenly recognize, long-term planning, <br />preparation, and implementation are needed~to amend the County's animal <br />ordinances. <br />a. Reclaimed Animals impounded multiple times <br />Currently there is no requirement for ensuring that intact animals that are <br />reclaimed from. OCAS by an owner or custodian will be sterilized. Yet it is <br />generally recognized that roaming intact animals contribute to pet overpopulation <br />(as well as nuisance) problems, and communities increasingly find that the <br />recovery of intact animals is an opportunity to address pet overpopulation and its <br />costs. Thus it is appropriate to consider various options in regard to the recovery <br />of an intact animal that was previously impounded. One recommended possibility <br />would be to waive reclaim fees for a second recovery of the animal is spayed or <br />neutered, but make sterilization mandatory for an animal impounded a third time. <br />Alternately, the reclaim fee could be waived for the first recovery if the animal is <br />spayed or neutered with sterilization becoming mandatory if the animal is <br />impounded a second time. <br />b. Feral Cats <br />The keeping of feral cats and feral cat colonies, on the basis of their sterilization, <br />is expected to require amendments to the County's Animal Ordinance. Examples <br />include whether feral cats need to be licensed and whether keepers of feral cats <br />are required to comply with the County's kennel permit requirements. With <br />respect to rabies, there needs to be an agreed upon solution for identifying <br />$ Feral cats can be sterilized free of charge at the School of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State <br />University in Raleigh. However, they need to be trapped and transported, and there are important <br />issues about how they are kept if they are returned to colonies in a community. <br />11 <br />