Conroe City Council on March 12 approved allowing a trap-neuter-return program within city limits and authorizing the purchase of a new mobile adoption trailer.
The context
The votes came after the council delayed the TNR item in late February for additional review, as previously reported.
The TNR ordinance amends Chapter 10 of the city’s code of ordinances, and allows for caregivers and organizations to humanely trap, vaccinate, sterilize and return free-roaming cats to where they were found.
During the meeting, staff told council the requested language changes had been made, with acting City Attorney and City Administrator Gary Scott saying they cleaned up the ordinance language.
Also on the agenda
Council also approved the purchase of a $58,850 adoption and rescue trailer for the Conroe Animal Shelter.
Police Chief Jon Buckholtz said the trailer will allow the shelter to bring animals into the community in a self-sustaining, climate-controlled setup with heat and air conditioning instead of transporting them in cages in the back of a truck.
He said the trailer is intended to support more off-site adoptions as the shelter continues to improve outcomes.
Bid documents show Jones Trailer Co. submitted the lowest quote at $57,667, but city staff recommended Hartstra Manufacturing’s $58,850 proposal. According to the documents, the city selected Hartstra because it has prior experience with the company on animal control truck cages and because Hartstra’s quote included a quiet generator and electric tongue jack.
Buckholtz told council an anonymous donor covered $57,667 of the cost, and the remaining $1,183 would also come from donated funds, meaning no taxpayer dollars would be used.
Buckholtz also said the shelter has “turned completely around” and is now operating as a no-kill shelter, adding that about 93%-94% of animals that come in are adopted.