Johnson County, IN Code of Ordinances

CHAPTER 3: TRAP, NEUTER, AND RETURN PROGRAM

§ 15-2-3-1 FERAL CAT POPULATION CONTROL THROUGH TNR

(A)To reduce and ultimately eliminate the population of feral cats in Johnson County, a feral cat colony caretaker must participate in Johnson County’s TNR program. TNR requires a feral cat colony caretaker to make every reasonable effort to:

1. Humanely trap feral cats;

2. Have a licensed veterinarian evaluate the health of all trapped feral cats;

3. Have a licensed veterinarian sterilize (neuter/spay) all trapped feral cats;

4. Have a licensed veterinarian administer a rabies shot to all trapped feral cats;

5. Have a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician eartip all trapped feral cats that have been sterilized and given a rabies shot;

6. Return feral cats who have been through the TNR program to their original locations; and

7. Maintain proof of sterilization and vaccination.

Should a licensed veterinarian determine that a feral cat is seriously ill or injured with no prognosis for human rehabilitation or survival outdoors, the veterinarian must humanely euthanize the animal.

(Ord. 2014-7, passed 1-12-2015.)

CHAPTER 4: SPONSORS

§ 15-2-4-1 PROCESS

(A)Any animal welfare organization or local rescue group may become a feral cat colony sponsor by being approved by JCAC. To be approved, a sponsor candidate must:

1. Fill out a sponsor application form to be reviewed and assessed by JCAC; and

2. Demonstrate the ability, capacity, and willingness to comply with the requirements set forth in this Article.

(B) A sponsor in violation of this ordinance will lose sponsor status. A former sponsor must turn in all its records to the JCAC and cease sponsorship activities. The caretakers approved by the former sponsor will be transferred by JCAC to another sponsor.

(C) Sponsors must establish a process to approve or deny feral cat colony caretaker applications and also a process for revoking caretaker status.

(Ord. 2014-7, passed 1-12-2015.)

135 § 15-2-4-2 SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITIES

(A)A feral cat colony sponsor must maintain the following:

1. guidelines for caretakers on how best to engage in Johnson County’s TNR Program; and

2. records of each feral cat colony caretaker it approves, including:

i. the caretaker’s name and contact information; and

ii. the size of each feral cat colony being cared for by each individual caretaker.

The sponsor must furnish the above records and/or guidelines to JCAC or Johnson County upon request.

(B) Sponsors must fully cooperate with JCAC in resolving:

1. any situation involving feral cats posing a potential threat to public health and/or safety, including the possible risk of rabies transmission;

2. any investigation into animal cruelty;

3. any nuisance investigation; and

4. any situation involving feral cats in unsafe or inappropriate areas.

(Ord. 2014-7, passed 1-12-2015.)