(image) recently weaned kitten, that was found severely dehydrated and emeciated This is who we receive fines for from Bullhead City Animal Control for giving basic care for community cats and kittens in Bullhead City,AZ. 

Why Community Cat Caregivers Should Be Protected

Community cats, stray cats, and young kittens cannot simply provide for themselves. Orphaned kittens, recently weaned kittens, elderly cats, injured cats, and abandoned domestic cats are especially vulnerable to starvation, dehydration, disease, heat exhaustion, and predation. In Bullhead City's harsh desert climate, where summer temperatures often exceed 120°F, access to fresh water is essential for survival.

Many residents witness stray cats and kittens suffering from dehydration and malnutrition during the hottest months of the year. Providing food and clean water is a humane act that prevents unnecessary suffering. No compassionate resident should face a citation for offering life-saving care to an animal in need.

Responsible colony caregivers do far more than feed cats. They work to humanely reduce the community cat population by trapping cats for spay and neuter surgery, vaccinating them when possible, monitoring their health, seeking veterinary care for sick or injured animals, and socializing or finding homes for adoptable kittens and friendly cats. These volunteers donate countless hours and personal resources while helping reduce the burden on taxpayers, animal control, and local shelters.

We respectfully request that Bullhead City establish a Community Cat Colony Registration Program that allows caregivers to register the colonies they manage. Registered caregivers would agree to maintain colonies responsibly by ensuring cats are spayed or neutered, maintaining clean feeding areas, monitoring colony health, and working to reduce colony size through Trap-Neuter-Return and adoption. In return, registered caregivers should be protected from citations for providing food, water, and humane care to registered colonies.

Bullhead City should distinguish between those who neglect or abuse animals and those who are preventing suffering. If residents may be cited for failing to provide basic care to animals, then caregivers who provide food, water, and humane care should not be cited for doing the very opposite. Compassionate caregiving is not neglect—it is responsible community service.

We also urge Bullhead City to consider successful community cat management policies adopted by neighboring jurisdictions, including Clark County, Nevada, and to amend its ordinances to support humane, science-based solutions that protect both animals and the community.

Clark County Code (Title 10, Chapter 10.06) establishes the rights of community cat caregivers, specifically authorizing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Caregivers can legally maintain free-roaming cat colonies by providing food, water, shelter, and medical care, and returned cats are legally exempt from abandonment

Together, these changes will improve animal welfare, reduce nuisance complaints, decrease shelter intake, encourage responsible colony management, and create a fair partnership between the City, Animal Control, rescue organizations, veterinarians, and the dedicated volunteers who care for Bullhead City's community cats.

PETITION TO AMEND BULLHEAD CITY'S COMMUNITY CAT ORDINANCES

A Petition to Protect Responsible Community Cat Caregivers and Establish a Community Cat Colony Registration Program

To the Honorable Mayor and Members of the Bullhead City Council:

We, the undersigned residents of Bullhead City, Mohave County, and concerned Arizona citizens, respectfully petition the Bullhead City Council to amend the City's ordinances governing community cats by recognizing responsible colony caregivers, establishing a voluntary Community Cat Colony Registration Program, and adopting humane, evidence-based policies that protect both public health and animal welfare.

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS, community cats are domestic cats (Felis catus) that live outdoors and are part of our community; and

WHEREAS, responsible community cat caregivers voluntarily provide food, fresh water, monitoring, and access to spay/neuter and veterinary care at no cost to taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) has been recognized by many communities as an effective, humane method of stabilizing and gradually reducing community cat populations while reducing nuisance behaviors associated with breeding, and

WHEREAS, Bullhead City experiences extreme summer temperatures that frequently exceed 120°F, placing stray cats, abandoned domestic cats, and vulnerable kittens at serious risk of dehydration, heat-related illness, and death without access to fresh water; and

WHEREAS, orphaned kittens, recently weaned kittens, elderly cats, and injured or abandoned domestic cats cannot adequately provide for themselves and depend upon compassionate human intervention for survival; and

WHEREAS, responsible caregivers should not be cited for providing food, water, or humane care to community cats when their actions prevent unnecessary suffering and promote responsible population management; and

WHEREAS, fairness requires distinguishing between those who neglect or abuse animals and those who actively work to improve their welfare through responsible caregiving; and

WHEREAS, neighboring jurisdictions have adopted humane community cat management practices that recognize the important role of caregivers while promoting accountability and responsible colony management;

THEREFORE, WE PETITION THE BULLHEAD CITY COUNCIL TO:

Amend the City's ordinances to protect responsible community cat caregivers from citations for providing food, water, shelter, and humane care.
Establish a voluntary Community Cat Colony Registration Program allowing caregivers to register and responsibly manage colonies.
Require registered caregivers, when reasonably possible, to:
Ensure colony cats are spayed or neutered.
Vaccinate cats against rabies as resources permit.
Maintain clean feeding areas.
Monitor colony health and seek veterinary care for sick or injured cats whenever feasible.
Work to reduce colony size through Trap-Neuter-Return, adoption of socialized cats, and placement of kittens into homes.
Recognize Trap-Neuter-Return as Bullhead City's preferred humane method for managing community cat populations.
Encourage cooperation among Animal Control, local veterinarians, rescue organizations, and registered caregivers to reduce the number of free-roaming cats through humane, effective, and fiscally responsible practices.
Clearly distinguish responsible caregiving from animal neglect, abandonment, or abuse so that compassionate residents are not penalized for preventing unnecessary suffering.
OUR REQUEST

By adopting these amendments, Bullhead City can promote compassion, public health, fiscal responsibility, and responsible animal management while reducing shelter intake, preventing unnecessary suffering, and encouraging cooperation between the City and the volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to caring for community cats.

We respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council place these proposed amendments on a future council agenda for public discussion and consideration.

Respectfully submitted by the undersigned residents and supporters of humane community cat management.

Kind regards,
Rebecca Seefeld
We Care for Animals
Saving more than 9 lives"
928.362.2733
wecareforanimalsaz.org