The background
To carry out the TNR program, the city’s animal control works with an approved volunteer sponsor and a number of cat caregiver volunteers for trapping, spaying or neutering, and vaccinating stray cats before releasing them back into the community, according to agenda documents.
City officials said they hope this policy will reduce the number of stray cats that are euthanized at the city’s animal shelter, according to agenda documents.
The program was originally approved March 19, city documents show.
What else?
Council member Joe Machol asked if the number of cats picked up has been tracked since the program was adopted in March.
The TNR program has cataloged 33 cats since March, and of those, 10 have been rehomed, Seabrook Police Chief Rolf Nelson said.
In their own words
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League City resident Monica Millican, who has been leading efforts to encourage the adoption of cats in nearby League City’s TNR program instead of releasing them, spoke at the meeting.
Millican urged Seabrook officials to prioritize adoptions, stating many of the cats found on the streets were previously house cats and, with rehabilitation, they could be placed in homes.
“Two times as many cats that we’ve dealt with on the point [they] were picked up ... [were] very far from being feral,” Millican said.
Millican also urged Seabrook officials to put up signs stating dumping an animal is a criminal offense.
What’s next?
Nelson confirmed the city intends to put up signs warning residents not to dump animals.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the city working with volunteers as part of the TNR program.
