§ 106-26. Feral cat colonies.

A. 

Feral cat colonies shall be permitted and caregivers shall be entitled to maintain them in accordance with the terms and conditions of this article.

B. 

Sponsorship of colony TNR programs. The Burlington County Feral Cat Initiative Program sponsored by Nature's Refuge, a nonprofit animal education organization, is approved. Other persons may apply to the Township to serve as colony TNR program sponsors ("sponsors") so long as said persons agree to perform the responsibilities stated in this article for sponsors.

C. 

Sponsor requirements. It shall be the duty of the sponsor to:

(1) 

Review and approve of colony caregivers;

(2) 

Help to resolve any complaints over the conduct of a colony caregiver or of cats within a colony;

(3) 

Maintain records provided by colony caregivers on the size and location of the colonies as well as the vaccination and spay/neuter records of cats in the sponsor's colonies; and

(4) 

Report annually to the Township on the following:

(a) 

Number of colonies in the Township;

(b) 

Total number of cats in colonies;

(c) 

Number of cats and kittens spayed and neutered pursuant to the TNR program; and

(d) 

Number of cats and kittens placed in permanent homes.

(5) 

Use due consideration to avoid the taking of rare, threatened or endangered species under the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, N.J.S.A. 23:2A-1 et seq.

D. 

Feral cat caregiver requirements. Caregivers are responsible for the following:

(1) 

Registering the feral cat colony with the sponsor;

(2) 

Taking steps that are reasonably likely to result in the vaccination of the colony population for rabies and making reasonable efforts to update the vaccinations on cats that can be recaptured;

(3) 

Taking steps that are reasonably likely to result in the spay/neuter, by a licensed veterinarian, of at least 90% of the colony population;

(4) 

Providing the sponsor with descriptions of each cat in the colony and copies of documents evidencing that the cats have been vaccinated and spayed/neutered;

(5) 

Providing food, water and, if feasible, shelter for colony cats;

(6) 

Observing the colony cats at least twice per week and keeping a record of any illnesses or unusual behavior noticed in any colony cats;

(7) 

Obtaining the approval of the owner of any property to which the caregiver requires access to provide colony care;

(8) 

In the event that kittens are born to a colony cat, the caregiver shall take reasonable steps likely to result in the removal of the kittens from the colony after they have been weaned, and the placement of the kittens in homes or foster homes for the purpose of subsequent permanent placement;

(9) 

Reporting annually, in writing, to the sponsor on the status of the colony, including data on the number and gender of all cats in the colony, the number of cats that died or otherwise ceased being a part of the colony during the year, the number of kittens born to colony cats and their disposition, and the number of cats and kittens placed in permanent homes as companion cats; and

(10) 

Obtaining proper medical attention to any colony cat that appears to require it.

E. 

Colony cat requirements.

(1) 

The left ear of a colony cat that has been spayed or neutered and vaccinated shall be ear tipped.

(2) 

An electronic animal identification device (EAID) shall be inserted into the cat by a veterinarian in accordance with professional medical standards. The sponsor shall be the named contact for purposes of the EAID.

F. 

Disposition of colony cats.

(1) 

An Animal Control Officer who has trapped a cat whose left ear has been tipped or which bears some other distinguishing mark indicating that it belongs to a feral cat colony shall scan the cat for an EAID. If an EAID is found, the Officer shall be responsible for contacting the sponsor or other person named as owner of the cat.

(2) 

If the owner or sponsor is not able to immediately take custody of the cat, the officer shall transport the cat to the Burlington County Animal Shelter. The owner or sponsor shall be responsible for retrieving the cat from the shelter within three business days or advising the shelter if the owner or sponsor does not intend to retrieve the cat.