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Essex County board approves $200,000 for trap‑neuter‑vaccinate services for 2025
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a professional services agreement not to exceed $200,000 with three TNR providers — Associated Humane Society, SeaPaw NJ, and Wildflowers TNR — to expand trap‑neuter‑vaccinate efforts in 2025.
The Essex County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a professional service agreement not to exceed $200,000 to support trap‑neuter‑vaccinate (TNR) services in 2025, splitting work among Associated Humane Society, SeaPaw New Jersey and Wildflowers TNR.
County staff told commissioners the program has grown from small early funding levels to a substantially larger effort: county presenters said the program performed about 1,127 TNR procedures last year and estimated that prevented roughly 6,700 births of feral cats. The board approved an increase from last year’s $100,000 allocation to the proposed $200,000 for 2025.
Wildflowers TNR founder Jennifer Chaney described her group’s model and partnerships, saying the organization has arranged mobile‑veterinarian visits and had treated dozens of cats in recent months. “We started Wildflowers TNR in July. I’ve been doing TNR for six years in Essex County,” Chaney said, describing monthly mobile‑van clinics that handled 34 cats in January and 39 in February and expressing plans to expand to twice‑monthly clinics as scheduling allows.
County presenters said the program now includes a third provider, Wildflowers TNR of Montclair, and that the expanded funding will support more surgery appointments and community outreach. Commissioners thanked the providers and noted municipal interest in participation from some towns.
The motion to approve the agreement was moved by Commissioner Richardson and seconded by Commissioner Mercado. Roll call votes recorded: Commissioner Gill — yes; Commissioner Luciano — yes; Commissioner Mercado — yes; Commissioner Murray Thomas — yes; Commissioner Richardson — yes; Commissioner Seibold — yes; Commissioner Sermons — yes; Vice President Cooper — absent; Commissioner President Palmeri — yes. The motion carried.
The agreement covers calendar year 2025 and is an increase in county contract funding for TNR services; the county estimated savings from prevented births but did not commit to any further program changes at the meeting.
Speakers at the item included county staff who presented the proposal, Wildflowers TNR founder Jennifer Chaney, and commissioners who moved and seconded the motion.
