Uhrichsville council gets update on feral cat trapping

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·2 min read
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Uhrichsville City Logo
Uhrichsville City Logo

UHRICHSVILLE ‒ City Council members received an update Thursday on a program to trap and sterilize feral cats in the city.

Marilyn Graef, president of the Tuscarawas County TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release) Program, reported that her group has spayed, neutered and vaccinated 779 cats in Tuscarawas County. Of that number, 592 were returned to the place where they were trapped and 187 ‒ mostly kittens ‒ were adopted.

More on feral cats:Uhrichsville approves funding to trap, neuter feral cats

Teri Edwards, the TNR team leader in the Twin Cities, and her fellow volunteers trapped 78 cats last year.

"We always return cats to the point of capture unless there is compelling reason not to," Graef said. "We work closely with the humane society, but yet apart because we offer different services. We are all volunteer-based."

The TNR project also operates in Dover, New Philadelphia and Dennison.

"Our partner cities that we work with, once we become active, all report that their complaints noticeably dropped right away," she said.

Edwards noted that all of the cats that are trapped receive flea treatments and rabies vaccinations. The cats that are being released are healthier.

"We can't help everybody. We wish we could, but we need donations to do this," Edwards said. "And it is relatively cheap the programs we use."

More on TNR Program:Uhrichsville council approves legislation to allow group to trap, neuter and return stray cats

Graef also reported that her group received a $500 donation from Barbells Gym in Uhrichsville.

Donations can be sent to Tuscarawas County TNR Project, 5143 Blacksnake Hill Road NE, Dover, OH 44622.

Also at the council meeting, Mayor Mark Haney reported that the city is participating in a scrap tire dropoff from 9 a.m. to noon April 15. The event will be held on Park Drive behind the Uhrichsville Water Park. The event is being sponsored by the Tuscarawas County Health Department in partnership with the city of Uhrichsville, Kimble Companies, Liberty Tire and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office. The event is for Tuscarawas County residents only.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Uhrichsville council gets update on trapping, neutering of stray cats