There’s great news for cats in El Paso, Texas! On February 23, The El Paso City Council voted unanimously to amend the city’s animal ordinances to include protections for community cats and their caregivers. The council also voted to create a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program through El Paso Animal Services.

The animal ordinances now include special policies for eartipped cats that will keep them out of shelters. The amendments also support TNR and protect caregivers by excluding returning TNR’d cats to their outdoor homes from the definition of abandonment. El Paso Animal Services has already begun enacting protocols to protect community cats, and these changes will allow Animal Services to have more control and flexibility in its operations and policies.

Thanks to everyone who spoke up for El Paso’s cats and encouraged the City Council to pass these important amendments. And special thanks to the El Paso city councilmembers, Sun City Cats, and Kurt Fenstermacher, Interim Director of Animal Services, for their hard work!