Volunteers and residents press Woodbridge for clearer TNR shelter support as volunteers report hundreds of cats trapped

At the council meeting, longtime volunteers including Arlene Rhodes described trap-neuter-release work in Woodbridge, saying volunteers trapped and handled dozens of cats this year and that community-run TNR efforts have grown. Rhodes said volunteers had trapped 179 cats this year (her account) and that the township-run shelter reported completing 38 TNRs this year, a discrepancy that volunteers said points to communication gaps and capacity limits.

Multiple residents described difficulty getting timely responses from the township shelter and asked for better coordination and clearer public guidance. One resident said when she called the shelter she was told “there is no program in place,” while volunteers said they regularly provide TNR and rescue services and sometimes use their own funds to do so.

Mayor and staff explained the shelter’s operating constraints: limited physical space, periodic influxes of animals from local fires or rescues and contractual arrangements that bring animals into the shelter from neighboring towns. The mayor and health/administration staff said the health department runs a program and that the township has a process for referring inquiries to the health department and Fish and Wildlife when appropriate. Council members said they would review contracts with other municipalities and consider opportunities to collaborate with volunteer groups, while cautioning that any expansion would require resources and space.

Volunteers and residents asked the council to consider a more collaborative model so the volunteers’ on-the-ground capacity could be used alongside municipal services. The council acknowledged the problem and said it would follow up with the health department and the shelter to check the numbers and consider options.