TNR program back up for debate by city council next month

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 19, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

A “trap-neuter-release” program to control the feral cat population in Medicine Hat will be back up for debate by Medicine Hat city council next month.

A bylaw that would change the city’s responsible pet ownership bylaw was introduced Monday for first reading ahead of debate and further voting at council’s next meeting, scheduled for August 21. It would allow accredited groups to perform sweeps of certain areas then sterilize animals before releasing some back into the community.

Humane societies say the territorial nature of the animals combined with less breeding opportunity is an effective way to reduce nuisance animals.

Council defeated the bylaw in a complicated vote in June, but has brought it back with some unrelated items removed. At the same time, council requested a larger briefing note be included about the potential downside of a program that has already been employed in areas of Cypress County and some major cities.

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