HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 1, 1987 (91)TO THE CITY COUtICIL
FROM_ THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
'OUNC'.IL C'OATATUNICAT` N
D"' -"E -April 1, 1987 t NO.
SUBJECT. REPORT BY CITY MANAG=ER ON POSSIBLE METHOD OF APPRISING NEIGHBDRS WHEN CAPS HAVE
BEEN PICKED UP BY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AFTER BEING SNARED IN CAT TRAPS
PREPARED BY: City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None required. Information only.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: At its regular meeting of March 18, 1987, Mayor Pro
Tempore.Olson requested information concerning the
notification to cat owners when their pets have been
trapped and taken to the City's Animal Shelter. I have reviewed this matter
with the Chief of Police and the Animal Control Officer. While there is no
simple, inexpensive way to provide individual notification to residences in the
area where the cat is trapped, there no doubt will be sane benefit fran an
increased public awareness effort. Contact will be made with the Lodi
News -Sentinel to request the publication of periodic reminders to keep the
public advised that unlicensed cats brought to the Animal Control Shelter will
be destroyed if unclaimed within 72 hours. With regard to licensed cats, the
owners are contacted and advised that their pet has been impounded. If we
cannot reach the owner by telephone, an Animal Control employee will place a
notice on the front door or deposit it in the owner's mailbox. It is the
City's policy not to destroy a licensed animal before contact has been made
with the owner, regardless of how long that may take. On occasion, an owner,
when so notified, will request that the animal be destroyed. To the best of
our knowledge, Animal Shelter personnel have never destroyed a licensed animal
without the owner's authorization. When animals are reclaimed, the owner must
pay a redemption fee of $5.00. Unlicensed -cats may be redeemed by the payment
of the redemption fee, plus the purchase of a pet license ($1.00) and the
payment of a penalty fee ($2.00).
The City currently has available for use by the public, 16 cat traps. During
the breeding season (March through August) all 16 are frequently in use. Some
are used in more than one location on the same day. It is difficult, if not
impossible, to capture cats any other way. Thus, virtually all of the cats who
are impounded reach the Animal Shelter as a result of having been trapped. In
addition to residents borrowing and using the traps, the City's animal control
personnel utilize these devices at the request of merchants, industrialist,
packing house operators and the like. Animal control personnel will pick up
frcrn residents trapped cats at the rate of as high as 8-10 cats each day.
Approximately 90 cats a month (about 1,100 a year) are destroyed at the Animal
Shelter. With these kinds of nunbers, it is really not feasible to deliver
individual notices to dwelling units (houses and/or apartments) in the
immediate area where the cat was trapped.
f
ODUNCIL ca\H IICATION
Trapping of Cats
Page 2
April 1, 1987
Obviously, the importance of licensing o're's animal (dog or cat) cannot be
Ovveeremphasized. Unfortunately, scrr* will purchase the pet license, but for one
another, will not put the license on the pet. Such an animal when
impounded is "unlicensed" and is handled accordingly.
We will discuss this matter with the Lodi News -Sentinel and h
resultant additional publicity regarding the hopefully the
a positive affect. g urtance of licensing will have
The staff will be prepared to answer any questions Councilnxmbers may have.
Respectfully suhdtted,
Thcmas A. Peterson
TAP:br City Manager
CM4Cl 75