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Residents urge action on feral cat population as Humane Society relationship remains unsettled
Summary
Public commenter Jan Reed described problems with Carthage—s feral and stray cat population and volunteer access to the local Humane Society; the mayor later said the city—s contract with the Humane Society enters its third year on July 1 and the city will report back on progress.
At the June 24 Carthage City Council meeting a resident urged the council to address a perceived surge in feral and stray cats and described difficulty working with the local Humane Society.
Jan Reed, a resident at 204 West Macon, told the council she had volunteered previously and said she found the Humane Society an "unfriendly place to volunteer." Reed described multiple instances in which she offered to foster and pay for veterinary care for stray cats and kittens but said the shelter declined her offers and provided resources she considered useless. She told the council that many stray and feral cats "do not survive their first year" and urged the city to improve animal control, sheltering and humane options.
Council members and staff later noted the municipal contract with the Humane Society: the mayor said the contract enters its third year on July 1, and he would report back on how the arrangement is progressing. Councilmember Gilpin remarked in her member—s report that the Humane Society had "kind of uninvited us," indicating ongoing friction between some council liaisons and the shelter; no formal action was taken during the June 24 meeting.
Why it matters: Animal control and shelter services involve public safety, municipal contracting and community expectations about humane treatment and volunteer participation. The council did not adopt new policy or funding at the meeting but the mayor—s statement signals follow-up.
Next steps: The mayor said he would report back after the July 1 contract milestone; the public commenter offered to assist in finding homes for kittens and called on the city to improve animal sheltering and control operations.
