Public-safety staff urges ordinance changes after surge in cat and dog complaints

Animal-control staff told commissioners that complaints about stray animals — particularly cats — have continued despite a drop in shelter intake caused by the city’s community-cat policy, and asked the commission to authorize changes to the ordinance and to reconvene the animal-control advisory board for community input.

Director Hill presented complaint data through March 23: animal-control received about 1,165 complaints year-to-date, with 377 stray complaints and 309 general investigation calls (barking, bite reports, neglect) and 328 animals actually picked up. District 5 accounted for the highest number of calls across several complaint categories. Hill explained that after the commission adopted a community-cat ordinance and related implementation measures in 2023, staff became unable to impound healthy, unowned cats unless injured or ill; the ordinance change led to a reduction in logged cat intakes but complaints continue to come in from residents.

Commissioners asked how trap requests are handled and how caught animals are processed; Hill explained that charity or volunteer-operated cat traps are serviced by staff when notified, and animals caught in traps are removed, processed and either reclaimed or handled per shelter protocols. Commissioners asked staff to return with a comprehensive ordinance update — staff estimated a draft for committee consideration within about 90 days — and to revive the animal-control board or otherwise ensure community input. Administrators and legal staff noted the board has sometimes lacked quorum and that removal or reappointment rules are available in enabling bylaws.

Commissioners asked for a clear public plan on outreach, humane removal, spay/neuter capacity and enforcement options if owners do not comply with animal-control requirements.