Virginia legislation that would have empowered localities to manage free-roaming cats did not get out of the Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources in the 2024 state legislative session and has been killed for the time being.
The full text of the bill read: “The board (Agriculture and Consumer Services) shall promulgate regulations that establish minimum requirements for a free-roaming cat management plan and establish a model plan for localities to reduce and control the population of free-roaming cats and the abandonment of cats for the purpose of reducing the negative impacts of free-roaming cats on public health, wildlife, and the cat population.”
If the legislation had been approved, a locality could have by ordinance adopted such plan created by the board, and the locality could include any ordinances related to cats that were currently in effect in the adopted plan, it stated.
The Urbanna Cat Project, a “Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return” 501c3 program, that supports the Town of Urbanna’s free-roaming cats has been in existence for years and currently helps in regulation of these cats. Middlesex County Animal Control program does not regulate cats.
There's more to this story...
Are you a subscriber? Log in
Many more news articles, photos and ads are available only to those who subscribe to our printed newspaper or our online e-Edition.
Pick up a copy or Subscribe today!
| e-Edition | Printed version |
For assistance, call 804-758-2328.
