The Jefferson city council has two items related to stray cats and dogs on the agenda for its regular meeting Tuesday at 5:30 pm.
The council will consider giving the go-ahead to Don Orris to begin applying for grants for the construction of a new animal shelter. Fundraising to date has provided matching funds to make applying for grants possible. Orris will update the council on that effort.
Total cost of the proposed animal shelter is $1,340,000. No public funds will be used for construction, but the city of Jefferson and Greene County have agreed to provide operating funds once construction is complete.
Also on the agenda is a presentation by Alley Cat Allies, a national non-profit organization that assists municipalities in dealing with feral cat issues.
Alley Cat Allies offered last spring to help the city establish a trap-neuter-return program after local media reported comments by police chief Mark Clouse about the JPD’s methods of dealing with feral cats. Alley Cat Allies has set up TNR programs much quicker than the 18 months Clouse said a local program would require.
Tuesday night’s council meeting will be the first pubic presentation for Alley Cat Allies in Jefferson, although it has established programs in other Iowa towns.
