ORDINANCE
NO. ________
An Ordinance amending Chapter 5 of the Columbus Code so as to provide
definitions and regulations pertaining to the oversight of free roaming cats
through a Community Cat Program to be administered by the Columbus Animal Care
and Control; and for other purposes.
____________________
THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I.
Code Section Sec. 5-5, of the Columbus Code is hereby amended to revise one
existing definition and add the following definitions:
(1) Owner shall mean any natural person or legal entity including, but not
limited to, a corporation, partnership, firm or trust owning or having an
interest in, permanently harboring or keeping, or having long-term custody or
control of a dog or cat, or the head of household who has furnished or
permitted a member of that household to so harbor, keep or have long-term
custody of a dog or cat. Kennel keepers, veterinarians, professional groomers,
pet shop owners, or similar entrepreneurs who keep dogs or cats as inventory or
professionally render services thereto are not considered owners within the
scope of this article if acting in such a capacity. Community Cat Colony
Caretakers, as defined in paragraph (25), shall not be considered owners for
the purposes of this Chapter.
(22)Feral Cat means a cat, regardless of sex or age, lacking owner
identification, free-roaming, and appearing unsocialized.
(23) Community Cat means a Feral Cat that has been trapped sterilized,
vaccinated, and ear tipped.
(24) Ear Tipping means straight-line cutting of the tip of the left ear of a
cat while the cat is appropriately anesthetized. A cat that has been ear tipped
is presumed to be sterile, vaccinated against rabies, and a Community Cat.
(25) Community Cat Rescue means a non-profit rescue organization licensed in
accordance with the laws of Georgia which has been designated by Columbus
Animal Control as the organization(s) responsible for administering and keeping
all required records for the Community Cat Program.
(26) Community Cat Colony means an identified group consisting of more than
five Feral Cats that have been or will be neutered or spayed, vaccinated, ear
tipped and released back into the area from which they were taken.
(27) Community Cat Colony Caretaker means a person who has identified his or
herself to the Community Cat Rescue and has identified a Community Cat Colony
for which he or she is willing to provide sustenance, water and care for that
Community Cat Colony.
(28) Community Cat Program means a collaborative program involving Columbus
Animal Control and such Community Cat Rescues as they may designate, wherein
feral cats are trapped, neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped to become Community
Cats to be managed and provided for in accordance with the guidelines set forth
in code sections 5-20 through 5-23 below in accordance with policies and
procedures developed by the Special Enforcement Division Manager with approval
of the City Manager.?
SECTION II.
Chapter 5 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended to add four new code sections
to be designated 5-20 through 5-23 to provide as follows.
?Section 5-20 ? Requirements for Community Cat Colonies and Caretakers
A Community Cat Caretaker is exempt from the responsibilities of an owner under
this chapter and shall not be required to meet the requirements of sections
5-15 or 5-16; however, all Community Cat Colonies must be registered with the
designated Community Cat Rescue and the Community Cat Colony Caretaker must
comply with all of the following:
1. The Community Cat Rescue Organization has inspected the area in which the
colony will be housed and has approved.
2. Regular feeding of the colony will be maintained throughout the year;
3. Adult cats and kittens over 12 weeks of age that can be captured will be
neutered or spayed and vaccinated against rabies. A three-year vaccine will be
administered whenever feasible;
4. Every reasonable attempt will be made to have kittens removed from the
colony and fostered before they reach the age of 12 weeks for domestication and
placement when placement is a possibility;
5. Whenever reasonably possible, sick or injured cats will be removed from the
colony by the Colony Caretaker and taken to a licensed veterinarian for
evaluation. The decision either to treat or euthanize shall be at the entire
discretion of the veterinarian;
6. Cats will be ear tipped for recognition as members of a community cat colony;
7. Records of sterilization, vaccination and animal identification will be
maintained by the Community Cat Rescue for a minimum of three (3) years and
made available to Columbus Animal Care and Control or State licensing
authorities for review upon request;
8. If colonies are established on private property, permission has been given
to the Community Cat Rescue or Colony Caretaker from the owner of the premises
upon which the community cat colony is located for the community cat colony to
be located on the owner?s property; and
9. Compliance with the Policies and Procedures governing the Community Cat
Program.
Section 5-21 ? Removal of Community Cats from Colony.
Columbus Animal Care and Control has the right to immediately seize and remove
all or parts of any Community Cat Colony for public health and public safety
concerns including rabies, other zoonotic disease epidemics, and certain fatal
animal to animal diseases as identified by the City Veterinarian or the State
Veterinarian.
Section 5-22 ? Unlawful Interference with Identified Community Cat Colony.
Except as provided in Section 5-21, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to
prevent, interfere with, or obstruct the management of an identified Community
Cat Colony. However, nothing herein shall prohibit a property owner from
taking lawful steps to control or restrict community cats within the limits of
the owner?s property.
Section 5-23 ? Disposition of Community Cats ? generally.
Columbus Animal Care and Control may impound feral cats which are not
identified as Community Cats by ear tipping and place those cats for adoption
or make such other humane disposition of the animal in accordance with this
chapter; however where feasible, the cat may be vaccinated, neutered and ear
tipped and released to the Community Cat Rescue which will place the cat in a
Community Cat Colony, or place it with an individual who is willing to be
identified as responsible for that cat?s welfare.
SECTION III.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are
hereby repealed.
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Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
26th day of February, 2013; introduced a second time at a regular meeting of
said Council held on the 12th day of March, 2013 and adopted at said meeting by
the affirmative vote of _____ members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting____________.
Councilor Baker voting____________.
Councilor Barnes voting___________.
Councilor Davis voting____________.
Councilor Henderson voting________.
Councilor Huff voting_____________.
Councilor McDaniel voting_________.
Councilor Pugh voting ____________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting__________.
_____________________________ _____________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON, CLERK TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON, MAYOR
Attachments
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