A Barry County Animal Shelter program to trap, neuter and release (TNR) feral and barn cats in the county will likely continue. Shelter Director Ken Kirsch asked the Barry County Commission to accept a grant for an $11,250 Bissell Foundation grant to continue a program that has already spayed or neutered 2,000 cats in the county over the last several years.
Live trapped cats, both male and female, are brought to the shelter, sent to a veterinarian, sterilized, given a rabies shot, and with the tip of the left ear clipped, returned to its original location. The program reduces the free roaming cat population in the county.
The successful use of the grant opens the way to future grants, said Tami Dickinson, member of the Barry County Animal Shelter Oversight Committee. Started this year on Oct. 1, the program covers all of Barry County, she said. A previous grant centered on the feral cat population in Nashville that Commissioner Ben Geiger said was very effective in that area.
The committee of the whole Tuesday moved Kirsch’s request to the next board meeting with a recommendation to approve, along with two other requests:
*re-appointment of Democrat Anne Richards and Republican Patricia Walton to the Barry County Canvassing Board for four year terms, requested by County Clerk Pam Palmer
* an agreement between Automated Merchant Systems and the Register of Deeds office to allow credit and debit card payments for transactions over the internet through Tyler Eagle software (BridgePay Tyler’s Gateway), simplifying the process and saving time, sought by County Register Barb Hurless.
