The recent Ledger report, “Rabies-infected cat attacks five people and puppy in North Lakeland,” highlights a longstanding problem in Polk County: the lack of humane and effective management of feral and free-roaming cats, commonly called community cats.
This case underscores the need to amend the Polk County Animal Ordinance and reflects a failure of leadership by both the Polk County Commission and Sheriff Grady Judd, who oversees Polk County Animal Control.
In 2012, the Hillsborough County Commission recognized TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) as the most humane and effective approach to addressing cat overpopulation. That recognition helped shape policies that support TNVR programs, and the county’s ordinances now include specific provisions for managing feral cats and cat colonies…