Westfield Health Director: 14 cats trapped on South Side; Board of Health code prohibits feeding unknown cats

Regional Health Director Megan Avellone provided the Town Council an update on recent cat‑trapping activity on Westfield’s South Side.

Avellone said staff have trapped 14 cats to date; kittens were adopted and older animals were placed in barn homes when possible. She said many of the animals involved were fed by residents but had not received spay/neuter surgery or documented rabies vaccination. Avellone told the council that cats account for the majority of domestic‑animal rabies cases in New Jersey historically and stressed public‑health risks: rabies is fatal once symptoms begin.

She told the council that TNR (trap‑neuter‑return) programs can be attractive to animal‑welfare advocates but cautioned that TNR alone does not satisfy vaccination documentation and ongoing colony management required by the Board of Health code. Avellone encouraged residents to bring questions to Board of Health meetings and noted that feeding unknown cats is prohibited by local code.

During public comment, a resident asked how to obtain specifics about the disposition of the trapped cats, where traps were laid and how long animals were held; the mayor and staff directed the resident to follow up with the town administrator or the Board of Health for procedural records and details.

What happens next: the Board of Health remains the governing body for animal‑health policy; the town will refer procedural and record questions to that board.