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Oakdale council approves $50,000 Best Friends grant to launch community cat TNR program
Summary
The Oakdale City Council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding and accepted a $50,000 Best Friends Animal Society grant to fund a trap‑neuter‑return (TNR) community cat program run with Astro Foundation and Oakdale Animal Services.
The Oakdale City Council voted 5–0 to authorize a memorandum of understanding with Best Friends Animal Society and Astro Foundation to establish a community cat program funded by a $50,000 Best Friends grant. City staff said the grant will fund staff training, marketing and a TNR (trap‑neuter‑return) program focused on sterilization, vaccinations and caregiver outreach.
The program is intended to improve feline survival, reduce shelter intake and offer humane management of outdoor cat populations, staff said. Astro Foundation founder Jaydeen Vicente told the council the group has trapped and spayed more than 50 feral cats at a local site and emphasized TNR as the humane approach: "The only way to achieve this though is through TNR," Vicente said, adding that managed colonies with caretakers are quieter and healthier for communities.
During public comment, resident Jeanne McDaniel described repeated encounters with dumped and stray animals in multiple neighborhoods and said she had called the non‑emergency line after finding a frightened dog but was told no one was available. McDaniel asked for more shelter space and easier, affordable access to spay/neuter services.
City staff and the police chief clarified the scope of the program and enforcement limits. Staff emphasized the MOU and Best Friends grant cover a community cat program (not a broader dog‑shelter program). Police Chief Tietjen said trapping a neighbor’s animal is not always illegal, but "you cannot dump the animal. That is illegal," and officers may pursue arrests when probable cause exists; he urged microchipping and community outreach as preventive measures.
The staff report characterized fiscal impact as zero to the general fund: Best Friends will provide the $50,000 grant to cover operation, training and marketing. Councilmembers who spoke during the item expressed support; the resolution passed by roll call vote.
Next steps: staff will execute the MOU, coordinate the training and outreach described in the grant, and return to council as needed with program updates or any policy changes related to shelter intake and holding policies.
