South Beloit council discusses trap‑neuter‑return and revising decades‑old cat running‑at‑large ordinance

At a South Beloit City Council meeting, local animal‑welfare advocates and council members discussed changes to the city’s running‑at‑large ordinance for cats and possible adoption of trap‑neuter‑return (TNR) practices.

The discussion began after Stephanie, who identified herself as executive director of Care for Pets and a state humane investigator, told the council that modern animal‑control practice generally favors TNR and that South Beloit’s existing ordinance and local implementation may be causing avoidable euthanasia of cats. “If someone catches a cat, they go to animal services. They’re evaluated for 24 hours… If it’s evaluated to be not friendly within those 24 hours, it’s euthanized,” Stephanie said, attributing part of the problem…