HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020.06.25 - 33342REPORT (MISC.#20158) June 25, 2020
BY: Commissioner Penny Luebs, Chairperson, Health, Safety and Human Services Committee
IN RE: MR #20158 —BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS —CREATION OF A COMMUNITY CATS PILOT
PROGRAM
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Health, Safety and Human Services Committee, having reviewed the above -referenced resolution on
June 9, 2020, reports with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Health, Safety and Human Services Committee, I move the acceptance of
the foregoing report.
Commissioner envy Luebs, District #16
Chairperson, ealth, Safety and Human
Services Committee
HEALTH, SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Jackson, Markham and Gingell absent.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #20158
BY: Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — CREATION OF A COMMUNITY CATS PILOT PROGRAM
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS community cats are typically un -owned or semi -owned animals, including stray and feral cats;
and
WHEREAS community cats are not traditionally thought of as pets; and
WHEREAS approximately 3.2% of cats taken to the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption
Center are reunited with their owner; and
WHEREAS a community cat program, also called Return -to -Field (RTF) or Trap-Neuter-Release/Trap-
Neuter-Return (TNR), is a humane, life-saving alternative to euthanasia of these animals; and
WHEREAS rather than admitting community cats to a shelter, proactive sterilization, ear tip, and rabies
vaccination with return to their original locations is a highly desirable solution; and
WHEREAS trap and shelter and/or trap and euthanize has not historically reduced the number of
community cats or shelter intakes; and
WHEREAS space in shelters should be reserved for those animals without other options; and
WHEREAS reduced feline intake should lead to improved animal welfare, a reduction in illness and
overcrowding, and a savings in cost of care, redirecting needed funds for live -saving programs; and
WHEREAS the reduced number of community cats, through sterilization and colony stabilization, will
reduce the negative impact on people and wildlife; and
WHEREAS adoption should always be the preferred outcome for every animal, but that is not always a
possibility; and
WHEREAS community cat programs are sustainable, effective, and a lifesaving outcome when adoption
isn't appropriate; and
WHEREAS community cat programs are viable and designed to save lives when implemented
appropriately; and
WHEREAS community cat programs, when implemented appropriately, are beneficial to the community
and to the cats; and
WHEREAS the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance and Michigan Humane Society's Joint Statement on Community
Cat Programs declaring community cat programs a "best practice' has garnered the support of more than
60 animal rescues, shelters, humane societies, and animal control organizations; and
WHEREAS community cat programs are also considered a best practice nationally, with the support of
organizations such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and The
Humane Society of the United States; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center annually receives approximately
200 community cats; and
WHEREAS the creation of a community cat program in Oakland County promises to improve animal
welfare, reduce feline.shelter overcrowding, reduce instances of illness and other negative impacts on
wildlife and people.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby endorse
and create the Oakland County Community Cats Pilot Program for a period of one year.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Oakland County Executive's Office and Oakland County Animal Shelter
and Pet Adoption Center are requested to develop a plan and budget within 60 days following the
completion of a shelter assessment, to create a community cat population management program
(Community Cats Pilot Program), utilizing best practices identified in the shelter assessment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the county administration will submit the plan to the Board of
Commissioners for presentation and approval.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the program shall be administered by the Director of the Animal Shelter and
Pet Adoption Center and shall be in conformance with Oakland County policies and procedures.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Commissioner Mc*cia Gershenson
District #13
Resolution #20158
May 13, 2020
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Health, Safety and Human Services Committee. There were
no objections.
Resolution #20158
Moved by Luebs seconded by Gershenson the resolution be adopted.
Discussion followed.
June 25, 2020
Vote on resolution:
AYES: Hoffman, Jackson, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray, Miller,
Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Spisz, Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Gingell. (18)
NAYS: Middleton, Taub. (2)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution was adopted.
I HEREBY APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.559A (7)
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on June 25, 2020,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 25th day of June, 2020.
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Lisa Brown, Oakland County