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Myrtle Creek approves short-term funding for Whisker Warriors' spay-and-neuter work
Summary
After a presentation describing trap-neuter-release efforts and a request for $6,000, the council approved an initial payment and a quarterly funding approach to support Whisker Warriors' spay-and-neuter partnership with Saving Grace, subject to follow-up reporting.
Whisker Warriors, a local volunteer group, asked the Myrtle Creek City Council on July 15 for $6,000 to support trap-neuter-release (TNR) work to reduce feral-cat populations. Presenters Lily Jasmine Stockett and Lee Catlett told council volunteers have spayed and neutered dozens of animals, described fundraising efforts and community partnerships, and said $6,000 would cover roughly 100 cats at the discounted rate Saving Grace offers.
Council members acknowledged the group's work but expressed concern about committing the full budgeted amount at once. Discussion centered on leveraging the group's prior $3,000, reporting and receipts, and whether local veterinarians could reduce the per-animal cost. Council moved to approve a shorter initial payment structure — an immediate $1,500 allotment (the council framed this as a quarterly/initial funding tranche) — with the expectation Whisker Warriors provide receipts and a progress update before additional disbursements.
Whisker Warriors leaders said they pay out of pocket first, bring receipts for reimbursement, and that Saving Grace will email medical records for each feral cat. "With the pricing that Saving Grace gives us, that would cover 100 cats," one presenter said, adding the organization had already used previous city support to cover dozens of animals.
Why it matters: The funding provides direct support for a community-led effort to reduce feral-cat populations through TNR, which councilors described as a public-health and animal-welfare initiative. Councilers tailored the award to preserve oversight and ensure receipts and updates are provided before further funding.
What’s next: Staff will process the approved disbursement and the group will provide receipts and performance updates per council direction; council members signaled it will revisit further funding based on those reports.
