We recently asked our supporters to support a bill intended to keep eartipped cats in Prince George’s County, Maryland out of the county shelter. Unfortunately, the language of the bill was later changed to limit the scope of eartipped cats who will be protectedwhich diminishes this ordinance’s lifesaving impact.

The Transportation Committee voted in favor of this weakened version of the bill last week.

Two weeks ago, Alley Cat Allies testified in favor of the eartipped cat bill in its original form, which would have returned more eartipped cats to their outdoor homes and kept them out of the county shelter. We have advocated to change the language back to its original version so that as many cats as possible will be protected.

This bill’s intention, all along, has been to keep cats in Trap-Neuter-Return programs out of the county shelter. We expect Animal Control to live up to its responsibilities and the intention of the bill, which is to keep cats from being killed in the county shelter.

The full Prince George’s County Council is expected to hold a final hearing and vote on July 24.