Resident urges changes to League City trap-neuter-release policy, criticizes curb releases

A League City resident urged the committee to revise the city's trap-neuter-release procedure, saying the policy as applied sometimes results in friendly cats being left at someone’s curb rather than considered for adoption.

Kathy Lopez spoke during the public-comment portion and described a recent social-media post about a found orange cat that she said had been checked and microchipped by shelter staff and then left in front of a person's house. Lopez said she supports trap-neuter-release (TNR) for wild feral cats but does not believe the same approach is humane for friendly, unknown cats that appear adoptable.

"Having a procedure that drops these friendly, unknown cats at the curb to fend for themselves while the nice shelter remains nearly empty of cats, it looks odd," Lopez told the committee. "It looks like out of sight, out of mind convenience to more easily meet no kill status goals."

Lopez recommended the city update the "League City Trap, Neuter and Release Community Cat Procedure" to ensure friendly found cats are first offered for adoption or other care options and that euthanasia be used only as a last resort. She also suggested initiating community cat colonies managed by owner groups willing to provide ongoing care and safety for outdoor, unowned cats.

Lopez summarized her position by saying she understands resource constraints and the role of TNR for feral cats but urged the committee to differentiate between feral and friendly lost or abandoned pets in practice. The transcript records no staff or committee response to her comments during the meeting.