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Council backs animal-control changes: return of seized animals to owners and a 6-month TNR pilot funded by a $10,000 grant
Summary
Council introduced ordinances to allow animal control officers to return found domestic animals directly to owners instead of bringing them to the shelter, and to create a trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNR) pilot for community cats funded by a $10,000 Best Friends Animal Society grant.
The City Council introduced two related animal-control measures: one to allow animal control officers to return seized animals directly to owners when owners are identified, and another to authorize a community CAP (trap-neuter-vaccinate-release) program for feral and community cats. Council set public hearings for both measures on June 3, 2025.
Amanda, manager at IPAC (the city’s animal-control/shelter operation), told the council the change to return animals would let officers canvas neighborhoods, identify owners and re-unite pets without exposing owned animals to shelter-borne infections or use kennel space unnecessarily. She said officers already scan for microchips and check collars and tags and that the change would allow faster reunifications.
On the TNR program, Amanda said the city was awarded a $10,000 grant from Best Friends Animal Society to start sterilization, vaccination and release efforts. She described the program as a humane, proven way to reduce community-cat populations over time and said cats trapped, sterilized and returned would receive a tipped ear to indicate sterilization. Amanda said typical spay/neuter costs for the shelter are about $80 per cat; council members noted the grant would fund roughly 125 sterilizations at that price point and emphasized the program would operate as a pilot with the intention to request budget support if successful.
Council members requested follow-up on staffing and the potential to expand coordination with the parish. Amanda said she planned a six-month pilot to demonstrate reduced nuisance calls and population effects, and that she would pursue parish-wide coordination after establishing the city program.
Council also introduced an ordinance clarifying the city’s animal-seizure return procedures so officers can reunite animals in the field and free kennel capacity. The council asked the animal-control manager to return with cost and staffing estimates and to provide updates during the pilot.
