Cat group speaks up about problems with city’s animal ordinance

The Gonzales City council met for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting Thursday, June 8 at City Hall.

One of the big topics of discussion during the public comments section of the meeting was the Friends of Gonzales Animal Shelter and the current ordinances regarding cats, especially strays.

Mary Anne MacLean of FOGAS spoke to the council about the current ordinances and she said it’s been causing problems.

“What the ordinance says is that any stray dog or cat — any dog or cat not wearing a collar with the rabies tag — is subject to being picked up [by animal control],” MacLean said.

She added that free roaming community cats and personals cats are being picked by animal control and being taking to the shelter.

“We fixed in this community about 500 cats and 1,500 dogs at no cost to the city. So there's a good chance when you picked up a cat in the city that you're getting one that's already fixed,” MacLean said.

The problem with this is that it allows a cat that is not neutered or spayed to move into the fixed cat’s spot in the community, which means the possibility of offspring and even more cats to deal with at once.

MacLean added this 19-year-old ordinance has been a problem that can be changed by the city council.

“If you look at the state law that came out last legislative session in 2021, it is far less restrictive than our ordinances. We've gone way beyond; it doesn't speak to free roaming cats at all. It doesn't speak to cats having any kind of necklace, jewelry, anything,” MacLean said.

In article 2.100 of the city ordinances regarding animals at large and restraint:

--2.101: Animal-at-Large: Any animal not under the restraint (as defined in this section) of a person capable of controlling the animal on or off the premises of the owner.

--2.103: Restraint; Nuisances; Animal Bites: (a) All dogs, cats, and other animals shall be kept under restraint and not allowed to run at large, stray.

Other members of the community also spoke up in support of FOGAS and requesting the city look into creating ordinances that protect community cats.

In other council business, the council approved to name Sherri Koepp as mayor pro-tem for the city, and approved to authorize the Gonzales Noon Lions Club to construct a sunshade at the Splashpad and repair/replace existing playscapes on City property located at the Lions Park between St. Lawrence Street and St Louis Street and approving the City’s Financial Contribution to the project.

The council approved the following agenda items:

--approved Authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for the Sale or Purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).

--approved Changes to theJob Descriptions for the following: JB Wells Park, Parks, Street and Solid Waste Departments Equipment Operator I Positions and Building Official Position.

--approved Appointing Crystal Cedillo, Gonzales County Tax Assessor-Collector, as the Individual to Calculate and Prepare the 2023 No-New Revenue and Voter-Approval Tax Rates for the City of Gonzales.