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Northglenn resident appeals cat-at-large citation, raises neighborhood safety concerns
Summary
A Northglenn resident told council she was awakened late at night by officers delivering a citation for an outdoor cat, said animal control removed one cat to the pound, and urged the council to revisit enforcement priorities amid public safety concerns in her neighborhood.
At the March 24 City Council meeting, resident Jordan Stransky described being awakened at about 11 p.m. on March 12 by Northglenn police who were delivering a citation for a "cat at large." Stransky said she had cared for community cats, had them spayed, neutered and vaccinated, and said she removed collars because she did not wish to keep claiming them.
"I was woke up by two officers banging on my door," Stransky said, describing the late-night visit and adding that animal control had taken one of the cats to the pound. She told council she cannot afford the fees and fines required to retrieve the animal and asked that the city return the cat to the community.
Stransky urged the council to reconsider enforcement priorities and to review the city’s ordinance on cats at large. "People in Northland are dying from fentanyl overdoses, and this crisis is something that should be prioritized by our law enforcement, not a cat at large," she said, arguing that officers’ time would be better spent on public-safety matters.
She also reported ongoing problems across the street from her home, alleging repeated vehicle parking, campers and people living in RVs, and describing a large RV that had been stationed for more than a week with persons living in it. "Despite my multiple calls to the non‑emergency line, the situation has not been addressed," she said, and expressed concern for her children’s safety walking to and from school.
Stransky told council she felt the citation was a misapplication of the law and could have a disproportionate effect on single mothers and other vulnerable residents. She asked the council to "reevaluate the ordinance concerning cats at large and consider whether it is an appropriate use of police and animal control resources at this time."
Councilmembers thanked Stransky for speaking. Councilmember Jaramillo later recognized Stransky in remarks during council communications, noting Stransky's longtime work in the Adams 12 community and offering thanks for her public comment. The council did not take formal action on the specific enforcement concern during the meeting; no staff response or appeal motion was recorded on the record.
