Lee County adopts 24-hour hold for unidentified cats after public outcry over rapid euthanasia

Lee County officials said on June 3 that staff have begun holding unidentified stray cats for 24 hours and will file an agenda item to amend Lee County Ordinance 14-22 to make the change permanent.

The move follows a months-long public campaign after a resident said her cat, Kevin, was euthanized within two hours of arriving at Lee County Domestic Animal Services. At the meeting, the county's animal services presenter said the county's ordinance currently sets a zero-day hold for unidentifed small animals and that staff have already instituted a one-day hold as a procedural change.

"Lee County ordinance 14 dash 22 establishes as a 0 day holding period for small animals, and that includes cats that lack any form of identification, including microchips or licenses," the presenter told the board during the June 3 session. He said staff started a 24-hour hold immediately and would return with a public hearing to amend the ordinance formally. "To make this change permanent, an agenda item will be filed for public hearing to amend Lee County ordinance 14 dash 22, section 3, subsection 25."

Public commenters urged a longer standard. A woman who identified herself as Angela, whose cat Kevin was euthanized, said the 24-hour change would not have saved her pet. "2 hours, that's all he was given," she said, adding that the shelter had not posted photos or informed her by phone. Other commenters, including representatives of local animal-welfare groups, called for expanded trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, free or low-cost spay/neuter access, better photo and intake transparency, and longer holds for lost pets.

Kaylee Theroux, who identified herself as president of Fortunate Ferrells, a local TNR nonprofit, urged partnership between the county and community groups and asked the county to estimate the funding needed to restore regular spay/neuter capacity. "We're not asking the county to carry this alone. We're asking for a seat at the table so we can help," she said.

County staff and commissioners said they supported the procedural change and acknowledged further work. The presenter noted historical reclamation data from 2000 to 2024 showing that, in past years, reclaimed rates for stray cats without identification had not exceeded 1.69 percent, but he said staff believe the extra hold will allow better reunification efforts, public posting of intake photos, and coordination with partner shelters.

The presentation outlined other steps the county is already taking or promoting: low-cost and free microchipping events, public education about licensing and collars, and encouraging owners to register microchips. The presenter said the county has seen an increase in microchipping requests since the incident drew media attention.

Several residents asked for additional transparency and accountability: consistent intake photographs, timely public postings, records on animals euthanized before listing, and written follow-up when an owner calls. Board members praised staff for quickly implementing the procedural hold and asked staff to return with draft ordinance language and a public hearing date.

The board did not adopt an ordinance change that day; it approved the procedural 24-hour hold and directed staff to place a formal ordinance amendment on a future agenda for public hearing.