Anderson council adopts community cat (TNR) ordinance after extended public comment on liability and infrastructure

The Common Council of the City of Anderson on Nov. 13 adopted Ordinance 30-25, creating a community cat program that enables local organizations to apply for grant funding to support trap-neuter-return (TNR) work but does not allocate city funds. Councilors passed the ordinance after amending language on procedures and holding periods following legal and veterinary concerns.

The ordinance amends section 91.69 (mistreatment of animals) by adding a new section, 91.69.0.5, establishing a community cat program to allow qualified local groups to seek grants for spay/neuter and related services. The sponsor said the intent is to reduce feral-cat populations through targeted TNR efforts and to allow groups to secure funding from sources such as Best Friends. The council did not approve any city budget allocation for the program.

City Attorney Paul Podlaysky told council the draft contained wording that could conflict with the city’s existing animal-control authority and that the ordinance’s description of impoundment, entry onto private property and the holding/determination procedures were vague and could create liability for the city. ‘‘It’s basically saying these are the only circumstances contained in this that a cat would be impounded,’’ Podlaysky said, warning that an animal-care-and-control function could be constrained by the proposed language.

Councilors responded by adopting a targeted amendment to section g (procedures for determination and holding period). The amendment, described on the record, deletes a long sentence about payments/charges and clarifies that if no owner is identified during the holding period the cat may be treated and released under the program. The sponsor said other problematic phrases had been removed after staff and legal review.

Veterinarian and public commenter Dr. Lexi Webster, owner of Middletown Animal Hospital and the shelter’s primary veterinarian, urged support for TNR in principle but pressed council for specifics on ‘‘ownership’’ and decision-making authority for injured or terminal animals. Webster said experience running large TNR programs showed the need to remove friendly cats and to provide medical capacity for injured animals, and she asked who would pay for treatment and who would make euthanasia decisions.

Susan Lapierre, introduced as the executive director of the local group leading the effort (identified in discussion as Ambassadors for God’s Creations), said the program would seek grant funding and that Best Friends and three local organizations (Madison County Humane Society, APL, and ambassadors) are part of the proposed partnership. Lapierre said the group uses liability-release forms for colony caretakers and that injured animals are housed and treated at their facility rather than sent to the shelter.

Other rescue groups urged clearer coordination and a registration process so multiple organizations do not duplicate trapping in the same neighborhoods, and asked for more infrastructure and stable funding. Heike Ramsey of Homer’s Helpers said a coordinated waiting list and outreach model (similar to Indianapolis programs) reduces overlap and improves outcomes.

A resident asked whether third reading would make the ordinance part of city code; the president replied the mayor must sign the ordinance and council could consider amendments within about a year. On roll calls recorded in the transcript, councilors who answered yes at the second- and third-reading votes included Councilor Turner, Councilor Harless, Councilor Cole, Councilor Graham, Councilor Newman and President Stevenson. The council declared Ordinance 30-25 passed on its third and final reading.

Next steps noted on the record: the ordinance enables local groups to pursue grant funding but does not create city funding or staff obligations; the sponsor and several rescue groups said they would meet to coordinate implementation and contact information was exchanged. The mayor’s signature is required for the ordinance to take effect.

Ordinance 30-25 as adopted establishes a framework for grant-funded TNR activity in the City of Anderson, while leaving open questions about long-term infrastructure and whether future municipal funding will be added through a subsequent amendment.