SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — Feral cats are big problem in Sioux Falls, bigger than you might think.
Some estimate there are at least 32,000 stray cats walking the streets.
Tuesday night the Sioux Falls City Council will take up an ordinance that many believe will help reduce that number.
“The cat problem has gotten so out of control,” founder of Sioux Empire TNR Mat Tougas said. “You can look in every kind of neighborhood, you can look in trailer parks, you can look in the industrial parks, and see lots of cats, but I’m helping people who had kittens born in their back sheds living in very notable neighborhoods.”
TNR stands for trap, neuter, and release.
Tougas is the one asking the city council to approve an ordinance that will allow his organization to legally catch feral cats and get them neutered and released back into the community.
“So if we are allowed to do this properly, like the ordinance says, we will see a reduction in numbers,” Tougas said.
The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society supports TNR because it says 65% of its intake are cats.
“Not all of those are from the city of Sioux Falls and obviously not all of them are feral but we do have a fair number feral adult cats here every year and the outcome for them unfortunately is not good because they are unable to be handled and unable to be released into the city of Sioux Falls,” Sioux Falls Area Humane Society interim executive director Michelle Hentschel said.
This year it has had to put down over 400 cats, and obviously that’s something it doesn’t like to do. The society wants the TNR ordinance passed.
“Yes, the Humane Society is really supportive of this initiative, because it will help us reduce our euthanasia numbers with feral cats,” Hentschel said.
The Humane Society says if it can get cat intake numbers down to about 10%, it will technically become a no kill shelter.
The city council will take up the TNR ordinance Tuesday night at its weekly meeting.
