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Montgomery County committee reviews Maddie’s Fund recommendations to shorten shelter stays and expand spay-neuter, TNR options
Summary
County animal services staff told the Public Safety Committee they have implemented many of the Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge recommendations and asked council to consider code changes on stray-hold length, trap-neuter-return for community cats, licensing and reclaim fees while planning staffing and budget follow-ups.
Commissioner Katz heard a presentation July 15 on a pro bono operational review from the Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge and a response from county shelter staff that laid out changes to reduce shelter crowding and speed adoptions.
Joseph Croupe, the staff presenter, summarized the consultant’s four policy recommendations: allow trap-neuter-return (TNR) for community cats, consider requiring veterinarians to sell pet licenses when providing rabies vaccinations, shorten the county’s five-day stray hold to align with the state-mandated 72 hours, and provide financial incentives or reduced reclaim fees tied to sterilization and microchipping. Croupe noted state law and county code could limit some options and asked the committee to direct county attorneys to clarify legal changes needed.
"You can't have it all," Dr. Sarah Pisano of Shelter USA said in describing the report’s approach to shelter flow, urging more community-based pathways such as TNR, fostering and transfer partnerships so shelters do not become default repositories for all animals. Pisano…
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