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Costa Mesa residents press council to legalize trap-neuter-return; council sets timeline tied to Priceless Pets opening
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the City Council to legalize trap-neuter-return (TNR) for community cats. Council members said staff and police will present an ordinance draft to the Animal Services Committee Oct. 22 and tied formal action to Priceless Pets' planned soft opening and capacity in November; a council vote could occur before the new year.
Dozens of Costa Mesa residents urged the City Council on Oct. 7 to legalize trap-neuter-return, saying current practices have left shelters overrun and volunteers financially exhausted. The council responded with a timeline for next steps, saying staff and the police department will move the issue through the Animal Services Committee and that formal council action could come before the start of the new year.
Supporters said the city’s current process — which they described as relying on trap-and-remove and ad hoc volunteer rescuers — has not reduced the feral cat population and has created public-health and animal-welfare harms. “We need TNR to be legal in this city so that anyone can ethically participate in helping reduce the excess production of new kittens,” said Kelly Blakey, a Costa Mesa resident and Priceless Pets volunteer.
The case for TNR drew sustained testimony. Dana Levin, who said she was elected to the city’s animal…
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