Free Wandering Feline: Put a Collar on It
GRAND PRAIRIE—It’s not uncommon to see cats and kittens roaming neighborhood streets, but it can be difficult to determine whether or not the animals live nearby, are stray or are feral. Feral cats, while beneficial, are undomesticated and survive on their own. Owned cats and strays are used to being around people. Oftentimes, owned cats are allowed to roam the yards around their homes. In order to keep residents and other pets safe, however, the city of Grand Prairie’s Code of Ordinance establishes specific guidelines by which cat owners must abide.
Under city ordinance Section 5-18, all cats owned by Grand Prairie residents – even outdoor cats – must at all times wear an identification tag containing the name, address and telephone number of the owner. Further, under Section 5-8, all owned cats within the city must be vaccinated against rabies, and they are required to wear a metal tag that serves as proof of rabies vaccination. Not only do these identification tags make it easier to locate and contact the owners of lost pets, they contain information that can be valuable to Animal Services officers. Grand Prairie Animal Services always recommends that pet owners microchip their pets as a form of secondary identification, and it provides microchipping services for $10 per animal.
To help control the feline population in the city and ensure the health of the animals, Section 5-12 dictates that all owned cats that are allowed to roam outside must be sterilized. It is unlawful for an unaltered, domesticated cat to run at large within Grand Prairie limits.
For more information or for tips, call the Grand Prairie Animal Shelter at 972-237-8575.