03-05-2025
Council to consider amending stray cat ordinance
POTTSVILLE — Pottsville City Council could amend its ordinance regarding the feeding of stray cats, which currently carries the potential to be fined up to $600.
The current ordinance — adopted in June 2024 — prohibits the feeding of or interaction with wildlife, unless permitted to do so. Licensed animal rescues and similar organizations are granted permission.
If the new ordinance is adopted, people would be able to feed stray cats if they are participating in a Trap, Neuter and Release program.
Feeding must be done with the intention of trapping the cat, then taking it to be spayed or neutered before releasing it. These programs are designed to limit the number of stray animals by taking away the ability to reproduce.
Penalties will be assessed to those who are found to be feeding stray cats without participating in the TNR program. Warnings will be given first, followed by a maximum $250 fine for each offense.
Council had the first reading of the change in April, with adoption possible at the May meeting.
'This is not a whether we should feed them or not debate,' council member Andy Wollyung said.
He said there is no 'right answer,' besides getting the cats the medical care they need.
Former Mayor Dave Clews said the changes are for health and safety reasons.
Denise Gehrman, a volunteer with Strays No More, spoke at the council meeting.
She talked about kittens they recently helped in Pottsville, and urged people to volunteer.
The organization has five volunteers who contribute money and time to addressing the stray cat problem.
'You may say they are not my cats, and maybe not, but by feeding them and not fixing them, you contributed to the population growing,' Gehrman said.
Wollyung also commented on a letter from Hillside SPCA Director Sherrie Schafer, and the Hillside SPCA Board of Directors.
The letter urges the council to continue the Trap, Neuter and Release approach.
However, the letter also opposes the potential penalties the proposed ordinance would allow for.
'While we understand the City's desire to address concerns related to community cats, we believe that punitive measures and restrictive ordinances targeting stray cats or those who care for them may be both ineffective and counterproductive,' the letter read. 'Experience and evidence from municipalities across the country have shown that programs focusing on removal or penalization of community cat caregivers do not result in sustainable population control and may inadvertently lead to increased inhumane death rates through poisoning and starvation as well as wrongful prosecution.'
Helping local cats
Andy VanArsdale, health and animal control officer, said about three cats have been trapped since the city started its TNR Program.
Trapped cats are taken to Hillside SPCA to be spayed or neutered.
VanArsdale is committed to helping other felines in need, not just those surrendered for TNR
He was contacted by the city codes department on April 28, after police notified them about a city woman who was no longer able to care for herself.
She had four young cats and numerous older cats, which she rescued from outside, VanArsdale said.
The younger cats were taken to Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA in Pine Grove. Once spayed or neutered, the older cats will go to a farm in Tamaqua.
