Update December 29, 2017: County Council Will Soon Vote on Trap-Neuter-Return Ordinance
The Anne Arundel County Council will vote on the proposed Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) ordinance at its meeting on Tuesday, January 2, at 7 p.m. at the Arundel Center Council Chambers, 44 Calvert St., Annapolis, MD 21401. Alley Cat Allies is asking county residents to attend the meeting and show their support for this bill. We’re so close to protecting cats in Anne Arundel County.
If you can’t attend the meeting, you can still help! If you haven’t already, please ask your county council member to support TNR.
Update December 12, 2017: Testify in Support of Trap-Neuter-Return at County Council Hearing
The Anne Arundel County Council will hold a hearing on the proposed Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) ordinance on Monday, December 18, at 7 p.m. at the Arundel Center Council Chambers, 44 Calvert St., Annapolis, MD 21401. You can sign up to testify beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Alley Cat Allies is asking residents of Anne Arundel County to attend the hearing in support of this proposed ordinance, bill number 96-17, which would remove barriers to TNR in the county.
Here are some tips to guide you, if you decide to testify:
- Your testimony should be short and clearno more than two minutes.
- Start by introducing yourself and stating where you live. Next, state your affiliations with any animal welfare organizations. You should also say the bill number (96-17) and that you support it.
- List three reasons to support the bill. For example, you might tell a short, relevant story about the work you do, why you care about community cats, and how TNR can benefit the cats and the community. End by summarizing your points and thanking the county council.
- Practice reading your testimony beforehand.
- Supporters for the bill will be wearing yellow. If you decide not to wear yellow, dress professionally.
If you live in Anne Arundel County, please attend the hearing and testify in support of this bill! If you haven’t already, please ask your county council member to support TNR!
Original Post
The County Council is considering an ordinance that would protect community cats and remove barriers to TNR. Alley Cat Allies is asking Anne Arundel County residents to tell their council members to support this important ordinance.
This proposed ordinance would:
- Define important terms, including “community cat,” “community cat caregiver,” “eartipping,” and “Trap-Neuter-Return.” Eartipping is the universal sign that a cat has gone through TNR.
- Permit eartipped cats to be at-large, so animal control officers won’t take them to a shelter.
- Allow caregivers to reclaim eartipped cats impounded at shelters.
- Allow caregivers and animal welfare groups to reclaim impounded community cats who aren’t eartipped, and direct them to a TNR program.
- Permit individuals to do TNR.
Alley Cat Allies has long pushed for TNR in Anne Arundel County to save cats’ lives. We provided a grant to Rude Ranch Animal Rescue in Harwood, MD, in October 2016, to help fund spay and neuter services in a pilot program. This allowed TNR in one community; the proposed ordinance would permit it countywide.
TNR is the only humane and effective approach to community cat populations. TNR saves community cats’ lives by keeping them out of shelterswhere nearly all of them are killed nationwideand returns them to their outdoor homes.
If you live in Anne Arundel County, please tell your county council member to support TNR!