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Animal control reports cat surge, 287 TNRs since 2022; committee authorizes flexible adoption-fee reductions
Summary
Animal control staff reported rising cat intake and successful trap-neuter-return efforts; the committee voted to give animal control authority to reduce or waive adoption fees case-by-case to move long-staying animals.
The Animal Control, Highway and Transit Committee heard an operations report showing increased cat intake and recent shelter outcomes, and voted to give animal control staff authority to reduce or waive adoption fees on a case-by-case basis to help move animals into homes.
Angela, speaking on behalf of animal control, reported that the shelter started August with nine dogs and 26 cats and now has 22 cats and seven dogs. "We've taken in 33 animals since August and had 38 leave the facility: eight adoptions, seven euthanasia, one returned to owner, 12 trap-and-release and 10 sent to rescue," she said. Angela also provided program totals: since the trap-neuter-return program began under Melissa in 2022, staff have sterilized, vaccinated and ear-tipped 287 cats before returning them to their colonies or placing them on farms.
Committee members discussed the effect of fee reductions and marketing on adoption rates. Angela recounted a recent clearance campaign that used a media blitz and sponsorships: "When this board said go ahead and do it, it really was a surprise and the marketing helped and moved a lot out," she said. Members noted that permanently lowering fees risks becoming the norm, so the committee favored a limited, case-by-case authorization.
A motion to give animal control authority to adjust the standard adoption fee for individual animals passed on a committee voice vote. Committee members said the director should use the discretion to reduce fees when doing so would increase placement chances or when the shelter's cost for that animal is already covered (for example, if an animal was already altered).
Angela told the committee she will continue using marketing, social media and sponsorships to move animals and will provide staff with cost-per-animal figures to guide fee-reduction decisions. The committee did not change the fee schedule itself; it approved standing authorization for staff to act within a case-by-case framework and said the authorization will be monitored by the committee.
