Lost and Found cats and dogs

Due to the changes to Campbell County laws in October 2016, community cats that are spayed/neutered are allowed to roam.  We began our TNR (trap, neuter and return) program at that time.  Some of the cats returned are feral and you can not touch them.  However, others are nice, friendly and sociable.  So if you encounter a friendly cat on the street, you can rest assured it probably belongs there. This is the number one way cats go missing.  People pick them up and take them away from where they belong. 
    
The cats that go through our free spay/neuter program will more than likely have a tipped left ear. This is a visual sign to leave this cat alone because it lives there.  If I can tell a cat is spayed/neutered I will not impound that cat.  If I can’t tell then I must pick up the cat.  The worse case scenario is the cat will go for a surgery that is already done, possibly get an ear tip and be returned to the neighborhood.
    
If you have strays hanging out on your property let me know.  I will gladly begin TNR in your location to help reduce the kitten population. The railroad tracks seem to be a big feral cat hangout.  I am slowing getting them all spay/neutered, but if you have property that backs up to the tracks and see cats, I would love to trap at your location.
    
Please know the shelter is now practicing Target Zero Policies.  They are striving for Zero Euthanasia.  The only cats that have been put to sleep have been suffering. So if you have a cat that needs done, you can take it to the Campbell County Animal shelter before noon on Mondays or call me and I would be happy to transport for you. 
    
Dogs are a bit different.  Dogs are NOT permitted to roam without a leash and owner attached.  This does not mean the dog becomes yours because you found it. Kentucky State law requires that dog to be held on public display for 5 business days.  True story:  someone found a dog and kept it for 7 years. The dog got lost and ended up at the shelter.  The original owners from 7 years ago were allowed to claim the dog, the family that had it for the past 7 years were in violation for never reporting the dog as found. 
    
If you find a dog and really want to adopt it, you need a legal paper trail or the dog will never be your property.  Due to our Target Zero policies mentioned above, dogs are no longer at a risk for euthanasia.  So you can send a found dog to the shelter, put your name on the dog as a “hold” and adopt once the legal hold is over.  That way your new dog will get shots, spay/neuter, microchip, dewormed, flea meds, and be legally yours.

​Submitted by: Terri Baker, Animal Control Officer
859-292-3622