VICTORY: Ohio City Removes Community Cats from Feeding Ban
Community cats in Kent, Ohio, are no longer at risk from a feeding ban!
When our team learned that the city included community cats in a wildlife feeding ban, we reached out to the mayor and city council to urge an immediate change.
We provided critical education: Feeding bans targeting cats are cruel, ineffective, and harm the people most willing to help cats in their community. Organized feeding is also a critical part of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only humane and effective approach to community cats.
After Alley Cat Allies and advocates in the community spoke out, the City of Kent voted to REMOVE cats from the feeding ban!
This is the power of our voices together. Is your community considering a feeding ban against community cats? Learn how to advocate against feeding bans at alleycat.org/FeedingBan.
We Will Keep Fighting for Community Cats in Ripon, California
While Kent, Ohio, made the right decision for its community cats, a city in California unfortunately did not heed the facts or the voices of its citizens.
Despite Alley Cat Allies’ outreach and offers of support for humane programs—and despite advocates in Ripon and across California joining us in opposition to a ban on feeding community cats—the Ripon City Council voted unanimously this week to pass the ban.
Our team testified in person, and everyone who provided public comment supported Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and opposed the ban, which would cause cats to suffer and make TNR effectively impossible. Their voices were not heard.
We are not done fighting. Alley Cat Allies is pursuing all avenues, including legal action, to stop this cruel policy from harming cats and kittens. Thank you to all who spoke out with us, and we will keep you updated.
Our Team is Offering Support to Prosecute a Horrific Cruelty Case in Florida
Alley Cat Allies has offered the support of our expert team to assist in the prosecution of Juliana Alyssa Brown for aggravated animal cruelty to a cat in Trinity, Florida.
According to an arrest affidavit, Brown, 21, admitted to “trying to kill the cat various ways over the course of several days.” Brown then allegedly kept the cat’s remains and consumed some of them. She reportedly told police she had fantasized about killing animals since she was three years old.
Alley Cat Allies is urging the maximum penalty allowed by law: five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. We are seeking justice for the victim and to set a strong precedent for future animal cruelty prosecution.
Learn more about our work to fight cruelty, and what you can do, at alleycat.org/Anti-Cruelty.
Alley Cat Allies’ Landmark Lawsuit Seeks Justice in Lincolnton, Georgia
Last week, Alley Cat Allies filed a landmark* lawsuit against the City of Lincolnton and Mayor Mike McCombs for unlawfully permitting a private citizen—Mayor McCombs’ wife, Lizzy Long—to shoot and kill Piper the cat.
The entire incident was captured on police body camera in April 2026. Piper did not die immediately from the gunshot and suffered extreme distress before succumbing to the injury.
Although a warrant was issued for Long’s arrest for animal cruelty, it was recalled the very same day.
Public officials and their friends and family are not above the law. Mayor McCombs and the City of Lincolnton must answer for the heinous cruelty to Piper and abuse of authority. Alley Cat Allies will not stop fighting until Piper receives justice.
*There are no cases reported to Westlaw alleging ultra vires claims against a government official that resulted in acts of animal cruelty.
The Next Step Toward Justice for Trooper and Greater Change
Alley Cat Allies is fighting for justice for Trooper after she was fatally shot with a blowgun dart earlier this year. This week, we increased our reward to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Trooper’s shooter.
Our team was also on the ground in Catawba County, North Carolina, where Trooper lived. We distributed flyers about our reward and met with veterinary clinics, animal services, and other key community members to provide our expert educational materials and build important connections.
With your support, we are taking strong action against animal cruelty and building the foundation for broader community change, in Trooper’s memory and for cats across the county.