Applications Coming In For Stray Cat Caregiver Program In Freehold

FREEHOLD, NJ — A two-year pilot program to allow caretaking of stray cat colonies is now in effect, and the borough is putting out the word to those interested in participating.

So far, seven people have requested the application since the process opened, said Deputy Borough Clerk Lynn Cannon.

The "trap, neuter, vaccinate and release" initiative is a two-year pilot program to help control growing populations of cats living in outdoor colonies, the borough says on its Facebook site.

Colonies will be managed by caregivers who will be responsible for the care and management of the cats.

If you are interested in being a caretaker, contact Cannon at Lcannon@freeholdboro.org and request an application.

All applications will be reviewed and approved on an individual basis to ensure the application meets all the requirements and the applicant understands the responsibility of being a caretaker, Cannon said.

Detailed information on each colony must be reported to the borough on a quarterly basis so it will have an accurate account of how the program is working, she added.

"We hope that by working together with the community caregivers and animal control professionals, we can place friendly cats in forever homes and reduce the number of feral cats on the streets of Freehold Borough," she said.

Under the pilot program, cat colonies would be permitted and caregivers "shall be entitled to maintain them" in accordance with an amended "Animals" ordinance (see pages 3-7). You can also read a story on the program here.

Any cat that is part of such a managed and registered colony would not be considered a "feral cat" for the purposes of the code, the ordinance says.

The proposed pilot program would terminate two years from its effective date unless the council acts to continue it prior to that date, the ordinance says.

The borough will study the effectiveness of the program no later than six months before the expiration of the pilot program, if it has not already acted to extend the program, the ordinance says.

Resident Andrea Burica, who has helped many residents trap cats to be neutered, spayed and vaccinated, was at the forefront of the many meetings about the care of the cats.

She thanked those who supported it and helped create the pilot program, and she urged those interested to register to participate.

That way, she said "you are protected as well as the cats from any future issues. This is the final step. Please register your cats," she said.