To: City Council of Salem, UT
Tell Salem City Council: Support Lifesaving Programs for Cats
The key to Utah County reaching no-kill is saving the lives of cats, specifically community cats. We urge Utah County officials to update local ordinances to allow community cat programming pursuant to Utah Code 11-46-303, the Community Cat Act, which was passed in 2011.
Utah County residents care about cats and want access to opportunities and resources to end the killing of healthy and treatable cats. Outdated ordinances punish residents for helping outdoor cats and force healthy cats into shelters where they are often killed. An ordinance update will ensure community members who care for community cats are protected from penalties, and that local laws align with Utah state law and lifesaving values.
We need you and your voice to be a part of this effort! Add your name today to support lifesaving, state-aligned ordinances for Utah County’s cats.
Utah County residents care about cats and want access to opportunities and resources to end the killing of healthy and treatable cats. Outdated ordinances punish residents for helping outdoor cats and force healthy cats into shelters where they are often killed. An ordinance update will ensure community members who care for community cats are protected from penalties, and that local laws align with Utah state law and lifesaving values.
We need you and your voice to be a part of this effort! Add your name today to support lifesaving, state-aligned ordinances for Utah County’s cats.
Why is this important?
In 2024, over 4,300 cats entered Utah County shelters, and only 60% made it out alive.
Community cats (aka stray or free-roaming cats) are losing their lives simply because they've made a home outdoors. In many cases, they are brought to NUVAS or SUVAS where they have a 40% chance of being killed. Many of these cats thrive living outdoors because community members care for and about them.
That's where community cat programs come in. These programs use trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) to save cats. The process is simple: Community cats are trapped, evaluated by veterinarians, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, ear-tipped, and returned to their outdoor homes, unable to have kittens.
Lifesaving programs like these are proven to be the most cost-effective, veterinarian-approved, and animal-friendly solutions for improving the health of and reducing free-roaming cat populations.
By aligning city ordinances with state law, Utah County can save lives, reduce taxpayer costs, and build healthier, safer communities for both people and pets.
Reference the facts:
Utah Code Community Cat Act 11-46-301 - https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title11/Chapter46/C11-46-P3_1800010118000101.pdf
Community cats and public health: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-feral-cats-and-public-health
TNR and population management: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-what-to-do-with-feral-cats-examining-tnr
Cat health and welfare with TNR: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-feral-cat-health
Community cats (aka stray or free-roaming cats) are losing their lives simply because they've made a home outdoors. In many cases, they are brought to NUVAS or SUVAS where they have a 40% chance of being killed. Many of these cats thrive living outdoors because community members care for and about them.
That's where community cat programs come in. These programs use trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) to save cats. The process is simple: Community cats are trapped, evaluated by veterinarians, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, ear-tipped, and returned to their outdoor homes, unable to have kittens.
Lifesaving programs like these are proven to be the most cost-effective, veterinarian-approved, and animal-friendly solutions for improving the health of and reducing free-roaming cat populations.
By aligning city ordinances with state law, Utah County can save lives, reduce taxpayer costs, and build healthier, safer communities for both people and pets.
Reference the facts:
Utah Code Community Cat Act 11-46-301 - https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title11/Chapter46/C11-46-P3_1800010118000101.pdf
Community cats and public health: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-feral-cats-and-public-health
TNR and population management: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-what-to-do-with-feral-cats-examining-tnr
Cat health and welfare with TNR: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-feral-cat-health
