Kewanee City Pound will No Longer Accept Feral Cats and Limit Number Cats in the Facility

The Kewanee Police Department announced on Facebook that the Kewanee City Pound will no longer accept feral cats “due to capacity constraints and resource limitations.” The decision to no longer accept feral cats was made after officers and animal control staff suffered injuries from feral cats. Even while using welding gloves, feral cats have bitten through the gloves and injured staff. Chief Kijanowski, Deputy Chief Minx, and City Manager Gary Bradley met with the Kewanee Animal Shelter, which included a discussion on feral cats, using the definition of a feral cat from Illinois Compiled Statutes. Illinois Compiled Statutes refer to feral cats as wild animals, and officers and animal control staff do not handle wild animals unless there is an emergency or an unusual circumstance. The Kewanee Police Department has seen an increase in the number of cats, especially feral cats, because of live trapping within city limits. Domestic cats that get loose or cats that roam the neighborhood, known as community cats, are not included in the refusal of feral cats. With a limit of 12 cats at the city pound, there may be a problem in the future with no space for domestic cats. However, the Kewanee Police Department and the Kewanee Humane Society will no doubt find a temporary solution to keep cats and staff safe.

The definition of a feral cat, according to the ILCS:

(510 ILCS 5/2.11b)
Sec. 2.11b. "Feral cat" means a cat that (i) is born in the wild or is the offspring of an owned or feral cat and is not socialized, (ii) is a formerly owned cat that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized, or (iii) lives on a farm.
(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03; 94-639, eff. 8-22-05.)

As someone with first-hand knowledge, the group running the city pound is responsible for paying for spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchips for every animal not claimed. Chief Kijanowski said they rely on local veterinarians for altering and euthanasia, and the cost ranges from $100 to $180 per cat. The city pound received 252 cats in 2023, which is about a 27% increase from 2022. The majority of cats that come into the city pound are intact and don’t have vaccinations. These cats are transferred to the Kewanee Humane Society unless the cat is claimed. Last year, 223 cats were transferred to the care of the Kewanee Humane Society. The cost to alter, vaccinate, and microchip falls on the group that receives the animal, which also includes dogs. Unfortunately, many people don’t see value in paying an adoption fee for a cat. Shelters and rescues rely on adoption fees and donations to pay for the care of these animals, and there is limited space to house the cats and dogs.

Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) programs are generally started and funded by the community. The Kewanee Police Department said they support TNR programs, but the police do not have the time or resources to conduct a TNR program. Chief Kijanowski said, “I would support community programs, but we do not have the resources at this time to run the program. I know the Humane Society would also support the program and help out as well.” A possible microchip clinic was discussed because the police have a better chance of locating an owner if the animal is chipped. A microchip clinic will take time to coordinate, so there is no timeframe at this time.

ILCS Codes for feral cats:

(510 ILCS 5/35)
Sec. 35. Liability.

(a) Any municipality, political subdivision, or State university or community college allowing feral cat colonies and trap, sterilize, vaccinate for rabies, and return programs to help control cat overpopulation shall be immune from criminal liability and shall not be civilly liable, except for willful and wanton misconduct, for damages that may result from a feral cat. Any municipality or political subdivision allowing dog parks shall be immune from criminal liability and shall not be civilly liable, except for willful and wanton misconduct, for damages that may result from occurrences in the dog park.

(b) Any veterinarian, animal shelter, or animal control facility who in good faith contacts the registered owner, agent, or caretaker of a microchipped animal shall be immune from criminal liability and shall not, as a result of his or her acts or omissions, except for willful and wanton misconduct, be liable for civil damages.

(c) Any veterinarian who sterilizes feral cats and any feral cat caretaker who traps cats for a trap, sterilize, vaccinate for rabies, and return program shall be immune from criminal liability and shall not, as a result of his or her acts or omissions, except for willful and wanton misconduct, be liable for civil damages.

(d) Any animal shelter or animal control facility worker who microchips an animal shall be immune from criminal liability and shall not, as a result of his or her acts or omissions, except for willful and wanton misconduct, be liable for civil damages.

(Source: P.A. 101-295, eff. 8-9-19.)

ILCS for the Animal Control Act:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1704#:~:text=%28510%20ILCS%205%2F2.11b%29%20Sec.%202.11b.%20%22Feral%20cat%22%20means,longer%20socialized%2C%20or%20%28iii%29%20lives%20on%20a%20farm.