Many welcome spring, but for area residents worried about the increasing feral cat population, the season
of new life is troubling.
The Wood County Free Roaming Cat Population Management Committee has met twice this month to brainstorm
strategies to best handle the situation.
The committee is comprised of Wood County Humane Society members and volunteers from local communities.

“We’re just getting off the ground,” said Kathy Dean, vice president of shelter operations and committee
board member.
“This is kitten season, so we want to move quickly and do the work.”
Dean estimates there are 10 to 50 feral cats within each Wood County community.
Colby Carroll, Haskins village administrator and police chief, said some residents have been feeding the
cats, which gives them the opportunity to gather and reproduce.
“That’s great and humane but then they have more. I don’t know if cats talk but apparently they know
where the food’s at,” he said.
“I think it’s probably more of an education thing. Six cats can turn into 12 pretty fast without much
intervention.”
Carroll said the issue has been discussed at village council meetings, where residents are complaining
about the cats urinating on their properties.
“It’s difficult to handle because cats are kind of hard to catch and there aren’t any licensing laws, per
se,” Carroll said.
The committee is referring to the Summary of Humane Cat Population Management Guidance by the
International Companion Animal Management Coalition as it considers possible plans of action, Dean said.

These include drafting an ordinance requiring residents to keep their cats on their property, putting
friendly, healthy feral cats up for adoption at the humane society if it has room and looking for barns
that could use the cats to catch mice.
The committee is also researching grants that could help fund a trap, neuter and release project.
If they cannot obtain the grant money, they will turn to fundraising, although it is not clear at this
time how much the project will cost, she said.
However, Dean is confident that taking these actions, along with educating residents about the importance
of spaying and neutering their cats and contacting every mayor in Wood County for their support, will
allow for a humane solution to the issue.
“Sometimes towns hire a nuisance person where they trap them and do away with them as a last resort,” she
said.
“Sometimes that’s necessary but there are humane ways to get rid of animals and we would like to not have
to put the animals down.”
Those interested in joining the committee can call Dean or chair Kay Chapman at the humane society at
419-352-7339.