Dozens of residents urged the Lake Jackson City Council on Jan. 6 to reconsider recent changes to the city’s animal ordinance that they say would criminalize common outdoor cat care and risk increased impoundments at the SPCA.

Speakers said the wording in the revised nuisance/animal ordinance could be used to require cats to be restrained even while on their owners’ private property and urged the council to explore alternatives including city‑sponsored spay‑and‑neuter programs and trap‑neuter‑return (TNR). Mayor said he would chair a citizens’ outreach subcommittee and invited residents and staff to help develop options before further ordinance action.

Why it matters: Residents and animal‑welfare volunteers told the council that the change could punish responsible caretakers, escalate impoundments and remove a local option—TNR—that advocates say reduces feral cat populations humanely. Several speakers also said the SPCA lacks capacity to hold additional animals and that local low‑cost sterilization options are limited.

Resident concerns and requests

Nancy Pearson (who identified herself as also known as Nancy Dolchico), a Lake Jackson resident, told the council: “My concern is the code, the wording regarding the ability of our cats and dogs to be unrestrained on our property.” She requested the council place the issue on a future agenda so the community can comment.

Sandra Clockinger, a retired mental‑health professional and foster volunteer, said she feared the ordinance could enable removal and euthanasia of feral cats: “I would much prefer to see the use of a TNR program in the city rather than bringing cats in that will be euthanized in 72 hours. I thought we were a no‑kill shelter.”

Other speakers described long experience fostering and sterilizing animals and pressed the council to invest in affordable spay‑and‑neuter services. One volunteer said she had sterilized dozens of cats at personal expense and recommended the council pursue grant partnerships with local veterinarians.

Pet owners’ practical concerns

Matt Meserve, who described an outdoor pet named Patch, said the ordinance as written seemed to require keeping the cat indoors or on a leash: “This ordinance would seem to state that he now needs to be indoors, which unfortunately is not feasible, or otherwise on a leash, which is certainly not practical.” Several other speakers described feral or community cats that cannot be handled and live outdoors.

Calls for process, committee work and alternatives

Speakers frequently asked the council to restore the prior distinction between dogs and cats in the nuisance code and to re‑establish an animal advisory committee to study humane, community‑based responses. Several asked the city to pursue a city‑sponsored spay‑and‑neuter program and partnerships like low‑cost mobile clinics.

Council response and next steps

Mayor said he would chair a subcommittee and invited council members and residents to participate, with a limit of three council members on the panel: “I’m going to chair a subcommittee. … as long as we keep it below, 3 max on council members.” He described a possible initial format as a town‑hall meeting that would include experts and advocates from both sides of the issue. Staff said they would collect contact information from residents and follow up.

During the discussion the mayor, council and staff noted past work with the SPCA and previous council direction requesting an SPCA plan for TNR; staff said no comprehensive plan had been submitted to the council previously. Staff and the mayor also flagged budget and grant limitations, and said any program would require funding and interagency coordination.

What the council did not do

No ordinance or formal enforcement action was adopted at the meeting. The council did not change the ordinance language at this session; instead members directed staff and the mayor’s subcommittee to gather additional information and to return with proposals and outreach plans.

Items for follow up noted during the meeting included: formal placement of the cat‑restraint topic on a future agenda, formation of a town‑hall or task group, outreach to the SPCA for a TNR plan, and exploration of grant or partnership options for subsidized sterilization.

Ending

The council left the issue open for additional public comment and directed staff to contact residents who volunteered to work with the subcommittee. The mayor said the group would begin with outreach and expert testimony and then return recommended language or options to the full council.