North Lebanon Township approves feral cat feeding for registered TNR programs

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The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to amend its code of ordinances to allow for the feeding of feral cats as part of a registered trap neuter release (TNR) program at its monthly meeting Monday.

Ordinance 2-2025 amends an existing ordinance, which bans residents from “own[ing], possess[ing], harbor[ing], or control[ling] any animal which engages in conduct constituting a nuisance” to include an exception for TNR programs that are properly registered and undergoing the correct procedure.

Other residents continue to be prohibited from feeding feral cats under the ordinance.

During the public hearing held before the adoption of the ordinance, resident Bruce Sattazahn voiced concerns that the amendment would make feral cat feeding bans harder to enforce, and that residents might falsely claim to be part of TNR programs.

Supervisor Gary Heisey explained that TNR participants follow a strict procedure, and the police department should easily be able to tell whether someone feeding cats is following this procedure. Resident Ann Pinca, who suggested the township look into such an amendment in August, added that TNR participants possess paperwork for altered cats.

Lebanon County Regional Police Chief Tim Knight explained that, over the years of having the ordinance banning feeding feral cats, the department has only received a few reports and issued one fine. He asked that residents concerned about neighbors violating the ordinance contact the department.

In response to resident concerns, Heisey said he felt such an amendment was necessary as complaints of feral cat colonies continue with no resolution, and TNR offers a way of reducing populations over time.

“My feeling is, we have to start somewhere,” said Heisey, confirming his willingness to further amend the ordinance if issues arise. “If we just sit here and complain about it, nothing’s gonna get done, so at least this is a start, hopefully in a positive direction, and we’ll try to make a change for North Lebanon Township.”

Several residents spoke in favor of the ordinance, including Pinca and a resident who testified that after his neighbor began TNR on the feral cat population, the population gradually decreased.

After Pinca asked the township to look into such an amendment in August, the Nobody’s Cats Foundation was authorized to hold an informative session on the practice at the township building, which supervisor Gary Heisey attended.

TNR programs put out food for feral cats during a limited period of time each night and seek to catch unaltered cats in traps. Cats are then taken to veterinarians to be spayed or neutered, are supervised for their safety for 24 hours, and are released back into the environment where they were caught. Altered cats have an ear tipped for easy identification.

Some TNR programs, such as Cornwall Community Cats, transfer kittens to foster organizations to be adopted out. However, most adult feral cats cannot be socialized to live with humans. TNR has been shown to reduce cat populations in an area in the long-term, as altered cats no longer produce offspring.

Read More: Five years later, Cornwall Community Cats has trapped over 900 felines

In other news, supervisors:

• Heard from Susan Eberly of the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation, which is looking to rezone a parcel of land across from the Business Park from industrial to R2, with the goal of building around 100 owner-occupied townhomes. The parcel is being looked at by a developer who seeks to build a warehouse, Eberly said. With no official request having been submitted, supervisors did not comment on whether they support the idea.

• Unanimously approved the dedication of two benches and two trees at Lenni Lenape Park for Weavertown Fire Company.
• Unanimously agreed to release $30,000 from the Fire Company Capital Reserve Fund for Weavertown Fire Company’s annual payment on a 2019 Seagrave Rescue Engine.
• Unanimously approved a time extension for the Manor View Estates plan.
• Unanimously approved minutes and reports.
• Unanimously approved the sale of 801 Kimmerlings Road for $89,000 following an auction.

The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.