The Ankeny City Code has several modifications that would be needed to support TNR. Two sections are in play. Before we start delving into that, lets talk about what the TNR process entails.
Trap - Trapping cats in live traps for the purpose of getting them neutered. Any kittens that are caught are ideally socialized and put up for adoption through local shelters. Those that can't socialize either find homes in barn cat programs or follow the TNR process.
Neuter - Making sure any caught cats cannot procreate by having surgery performed to remove their ability to reproduce
Return - Return the neutered cat to its original location so it knows its environment and can find its known safe spaces. The female cats will live out their natural lives without having litters of kittens every 3-4 months. Male cats become much less territorial. In both sexes, marking and territorial natures are calmed.
Ankeny city code has two sections that directly apply to TNR.
- Section 55: Animal Protection and Control
- Section 55.17: At Large Cats
- Section 44.12: Hunting and Trapping
With regards to these sections, which I've linked above so you can read the originals, the core changes needed to enable TNR are:
- Hunting and Trapping should exempt citizens trapping community cats for the purpose of TNR when it comes to the "Live trapping of animals that does not cause injury to animals is allowed" rule, as surgery is classed as injuring the animal.
- At Large Cats should exempt any cat that has been through TNR and has a notched or tipped ear, and also has an established caregiver.
- At Large Cats should remove the line "For purposes of this section a cat shall have a short coat of fur to qualify as a feral cat in addition to the aforementioned requirements of the definition" because there are numerous long-hair community cats.
- Ideally, colony cats should not count against a caregiver’s allotted 4 pet maximum. They’re performing a service for the community and these cats aren’t pets.
- Community Cats should have the same protections against harm, torture, etc as house cats and dogs. It should be a criminal act to harm/kill them. Once people begin caring for them they get attached to them, worry about them, and are often the ones called when something happens to them such as capture, injury, or death.