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County recounts TNR experience, emphasizes transfers and microchipping for feral cats
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Summary
County staff and an approved TNR provider described the trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNR) approach, noting the program’s county pilot and a fall in county cat euthanasia from over 900 to fewer than 50. Staff said feral cats approved for return must be sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped and ear-tipped.
An agency representative who participates in the county's TNR work described the local program history and urged the committee to make TNR easy for community organizations to carry out. "We had a, 18 month pilot program in 2004... The number of cats euthanized by the county during that period of time was over 900. And now it's less than 50, typically," the representative said, describing the county experience during and after the pilot.
County animal-control staff said feral cats are not considered "stray" in the usual sense and that sheltering healthy, unsocialized outdoor cats for long periods is neither fair to the animals nor a good use of shelter resources. Staff described a preferred path: transfer unsocialized or specialist animals to organizations that will spay/neuter, vaccinate, microchip and mark animals (ear tip) before returning them to caretakers or their original locations.
The committee heard that the county is the first in Illinois to incorporate an approved TNR program into its ordinance and that staff will work with outside organizations to ensure consistent standards for health examinations, spay/neuter procedures and microchipping. One speaker noted that approved organizations are expected to return animals to caretakers when appropriate so caretakers can continue colony management.
Speakers emphasized limits to county enforcement: animal-control officers can act for sick, injured or cruelty cases but generally cannot issue tickets where no identifiable owner exists. Staff said they will continue approving organizations for TNR work and plan to meet with outside groups once the revised ordinance language is adopted.
