HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 08.01.2023MINUTES
CITY
OF
LAUREL`
A Council Workshop was held in Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Dave Waggoner
at 6:29 p.m. on August 1, 2023.
_x_ Emelie Eaton _x_ Heidi Sparks
Michelle Mize _x_ Richard Herr
_x_ Casey Wheeler _x_ Iry Wilke
_x_ Richard Klose _x_ Jodi Mackay
OTHERS PRESENT:
Michele Braukmann, Civil City Attorney
Kelly Strecker, Clerk/Treasurer
Stan Langve, Police Chief
Public Input:
There were none.
General Items
Executive Review
Resolution - Resolution Approving Agreement Regarding School Resource Officer
Program By And Between The City Of Laurel And Laurel Public Schools, District 7 &
7-70
Police Chief Langve briefly reviewed the SRO program.
Council noted that one of the goals listed in the contract was to build relationships with students.
It was questioned what kind of relationships are they aiming to build. It was clarified that the
SROs have been able to address issues more proactively due to their relationship and open
communications with students.
Council Issues
2. Brush Truck Intercap Loan Discussion
The brush truck the City ordered two years ago is ready to be picked up. The City is still waiting
on the loan documents from the State but will have a resolution before Council at next week's
City Council meeting.
It was questioned if the brush truck had been budgeted for. It was clarified that it had been
budgeted.
Savage Cat Rescue Discussion
Council noted that in May, Savage Cat Rescue requested assistance. At that time, there were
budget constraints. Some Council Members felt they need to consider funding this program.
It was questioned if cats would be added to Animal Control.
Police Chief Langve noted that the City does not have a cat ordinance, nor have they discussed
adding one. It is not a benefit for the City to have one. The City has had issues with people
feeding and housing feral cats with unsanitary conditions. Dogs are by far a more significant
issue.
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) can assist with cats within the City limits; see the
attached information about what they do. When formalizing the City's agreement with YVAS for
services for dogs, they had mentioned that they do assist with cats as well, should the City want
to pursue that.
Council noted that they had received community feedback that YVAS was not assisting Laurel
residents with cat issues. It was clarified that the City would have to establish that program first.
It was questioned how many residents registered their chickens. It was clarified that there had
been no registrations for chickens.
It was clarified that the Police Department spends a lot of time determining if the animal caught
is someone's pet. The annual contract with YVAS is $6,000. That includes not only the animals
that are brought there but also services for injured animals brought in by the City and the seizure
of animals in cruelty cases.
It was questioned if Council would like to add something that has not been budgeted before and
when they would want to add that. It was clarified that we are currently in the budgeting process
now.
It was clarified that Animal Control is budgeted out of the General Fund. It would need to be
budgeted out of the Police Department's budget. The Police Chief would likely have to give up
$3,500 in another area of his budget to fund this. The Clerk/Treasurer has not received the City's
mill value yet but should have them by Monday. Because we are in the budgeting process,
expected expenses can be added. The YVAS contract is paid for out of the Police Department's
budget.
It was questioned when that contract went into effect. It was clarified that the contract was
signed in February.
Lorie Howard, Director of Savage Cat Rescue, stated that the copy of the YVAS contract she
reviewed explicitly excludes cats. She always gets calls because YVAS does not deal with the
cat issue in Laurel. So far this year, she has taken in 87 out of 308 cats from Laurel.
It was questioned if those 87 cats were within City limits or if it was the Laurel area in general. It
was clarified that those are cats trapped within the Laurel area in general. It was further
questioned if the list included the location where the cats were trapped. It was clarified that the
locations were included. City Staff asked for a copy of that list.
Recently, Savage Cat Rescue received a $1,500 grant from Laurel Walmart, allowing them to
spay/neuter 12 female and 12 male cats.
The Police Chief spoke with Triniti at YVAS. They do have a program, at the expense of the
homeowner, to come out and assist with nuisance cats.
Council asked if the $6000 was for both dogs and cats or just dogs. It was clarified that the
contract is primarily for dogs but can grow as needed. They will also assist the City if there is an
animal emergency.
It was questioned if someone lives outside of City limits who would they call for assistance. It
was clarified that they would need to call the County.
Barb Emineth, 501 Alder Avenue, clarified that she does not feel they are asking for a cat
ordinance but for funds to allow the work to continue. She encouraged Council to be forward -
thinking in dealing with this issue. Just because it may not be a problem in your area does not
mean it is not a problem in another. Some neighbors feed the stray cats while others leave out
antifreeze to kill them. In her area, there were approximately a dozen cats. She suspected that
there were three generations of cats based on their size. Because of Savage Cat Rescue, she sees
far fewer cats in her neighborhood. First, people need to get their cats fixed; second, cats are
homing animals, so it is not easy to relocate them; third, cats are nocturnal and generally lay low
during the day. Stray cats spread disease to domesticated cats and, in some cases, to people.
Savage Cat Rescue uses a proven humane method to reduce the population of cats.
Doug Powell, 2315 E. Maryland Lane stated the first step to solving a problem is admitting that
you have one. Savage Cat Rescue has come out and assisted him with the cat problem in his
neighborhood. The City has a $4 million budget; they cannot find $3,500 to fund this program.
As the City continues to grow, this problem will also grow.
Civil Attorney Braukmann clarified that the contract with YVAS is for $5,000 and is exclusively
for dogs. She cautioned the Council about amending ordinances to create a cat ordinance. This is
a very slippery slope to go down outside of nuisance situations, which is already addressed via
LMC. If the City states they will manage the cat populations, there will be a much larger
discussion on enforcement that needs to take place. At this time, it is not recommended. The
question of where to fund this project does not require an ordinance change.
It was questioned if it could be placed just under the General Fund and not under the Police
Department. It was clarified that taxpayer dollars fund the General Fund. Residents should not be
paying for cats picked up outside of city limits. The Clerk/Treasurer would need to speak with
the auditors on where this must go.
A resident of Carbon County stated that Savage Cat Rescue has also helped with cats out in the
County. Tom cats like to roam; he asked that the City support this cause.
It was questioned if the City can provide services not via an ordinance. It was clarified that the
City could enter into a contract with various entities, such as Savage Cat Rescue.
Brandon Ellis, 2707 Lackawanna Lane, stated he owns Dirty Paws of Montana. He sees a lot of
cats in his area. He recently went out of town and forgot to lock his pet door. When he returned,
he had 18 cats in his home. He is currently moving out of that neighborhood because of the cat
issue.
Mindy Bausch, 1845 Paynes Place, stated when they moved into this home, they had 15 to 20
cats, and now there is one left. They only see him when winter comes. Right now, she is caring
for two cats and 11 kittens. She had an unfixed cat show up this morning.
Barb Emineth, 501 Alder Avenue, stated that she rehabbed a kitten from the neighbor's yard. She
named him Simba. Once she started going outside, he caught a virus and only lived for two
additional years.
Council requested a contract be drafted for the next Council cycle. The contract would identify
what services would be provided to City residents.
It was questioned if recently Savage Cat Rescue had a cat owner upset because their cat was
trapped and fixed. It was clarified that the owner did not have to pay for the services.
Brandon Ellis, 2707 Lackawanna Lane, questioned if there was a limit on how many cats
someone can own. It was further questioned if Savage Cat Rescue could trap near the railroad or
if they would need to obtain permission from the railroad to do so.
It was clarified that it would become an enforcement issue if the City did and residents did not
follow those limitations. It was also clarified that there are limitations on entering private
property.
Park Board has been thinking of ways to make the eastern end of Riverside Park more useable.
There are concerns regarding the lead in the area. Park Board is requesting that the City get a
quote for lead remediation. They also thought about selling the lead collected to be able to do
additional projects within the park.
Other Items
Attendance at Upcoming Council Meeting
Announcements
The council workshop adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
P � €
7 f�
Britiney Ha ak I
AdministratiN Assistant
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for
the listed workshop agenda items.
A Closer Look at Community Cats
While the number of community cats in the United States is estimated to be in the
tens of millions, sadly, many communities still opt to control populations using
outdated, ineffective methods. Community cats who end up in shelters make up a
large percentage of cats euthanized throughout the country every year. The ASPCA
supports Trap -Neuter -Return -.Monitor (TNRM) as a humane and effective method
to manage community cat populations.
What is a Community Cat?
"Community Cats" is a term used to describe outdoor, unowned, free -roaming cats.
These cats can be friendly, feral, adults, kittens, healthy, sick, altered and/or
unaltered. They may or may not have a caretaker. A caretaker is a person who
conducts TNRM and provides care to a community cat, but who is not the legal
owner. By this definition, the only outdoor free -roaming cats who are not
community cats are those who have an owner.
Community cats—who have a dedicated caretaker who provides them with
spay/neuter services and regular feedings—can live contently outdoors.
Utilizing Trap-Neuter-Retum-Monitor (TNRM) to Manage Community
Cat Populations
TNRM is the method of humanely trapping community cats, having them spayed
or neutered and vaccinated against rabies, and then returning them to their
managed location to live out their lives. TNRM also involves a cat caretaker who
provides food and monitors the cats' wellbeing as well as identifying and quickly
trapping new intact cats. TNRM has been shown to be the most humane, efficient
way of stabilizing community cat populations. BY sterilizing at least 751 of cats in a
group within a six -month -period (and continuing to sterilize at least 751 of the
remaining intact cats), TNEM helps stabilize the - opulation of community cats
and, over time, reduce the number of cats.
(https://www.as ca- ro.or-9/news/2019/07/25/`--new-study-hig
could - mean- over -30 -times - fewer- cat -deaths). The goal is to sterilize all cats
present and monitor the location for any intact newcomers. Nuisance behaviors
such as spraying, excessive noisemaking and fighting are also largely eliminated
and no additional kittens are born.
By stabilizing the population, cats will naturally have more space, shelter and food
and fewer risks of disease. After being spayed or neutered, cats living in a managed
group tend to gain weight and live healthier lives. Spayed cats are less likely to
develop breast cancer and will not be at risk for ovarian or uterine cancer, while
neutered males will not get testicular cancer. Neutering male cats also reduces the
risk of injury and infection, since intact males have a natural instinct to fight with
other cats. Spaying also means female cats do not go into heat. That means they
attract fewer tom cats to the area, which reduces fighting and mating.
How to Help Community Cats and Kittens in Your Area
• Become a cat caretaker and TNRM community cats in your neighborhood. A
community cat caretaker is an individual (or group of individuals) who
manages one or more groups of cats in a community. The caretaker keeps an
eye on the cats—providing food, water and shelter, spaying/neutering and
oversees their general wellbeing. Since caretakers keep an eye out for these
cats, the caretaker is most frequently someone who lives nearby.
Offer your assistance to established community cat caretakers who are doing
TNRM. Ongoing needs include feeding, trapping, transportation to and from
the veterinarian, temporary housing for cats after surgery, and fostering and
111011 Ill 11 1
elk Ma
- Contact local shelters (htips://www.Aspca.orgLad—op-L-p-e-tLfind-s—hetter). or
found -kittens -what -do - i -do).
Ear -tipping is a widely accepted means of marking a community cat who has been
spayed or neutered. Ear -tipping is the humane, safe surgical removal of the top
quarter -inch of the left or right ear. The procedure is performed by a licensed
veterinarian, typically during the spay/neuter surgery and rarely requires aftercare.
Ear -tipping prevents an already -spayed or neutered cat the stress of re -trapping
and an unnecessary surgery.
Will Animal Shelters Adopt Out Community Cats?
Most community cats are not adoptable and shelters are not a hospitable location
for a community cat to be held. The fact is, most community cats exhibit wild, shy
or frightened behavior, and it's impossible to predict how or if they will ever
acclimate to indoor life and the consistent presence of humans. While a
community cat might look exactly the same as a pet cat, community cats survive
by avoiding close human interaction. When properly cared for, community cats are
happier outdoors in their own territory.
Some community cats are actually stray cats who don't exhibit feral behaviors but
rather are friendly and enjoy interaction with humans. These cats were likely once
owned or have a caretaker who frequently cares for and interacts with them. It is
very important to take caution, especially with cats who seem to straddle the fence
between a community cat and a stray cat. Even though they might encourage
petting or follow you around, they could likely be inadequately prepared for
adoption and an indoor life. These cats don't need intervention, other than TNRM,
unless they're ill or injured. Talking to local community members about the history
of a specific cat or group of cats in the neighborhood may help you discern if the
cat is being cared for and how you can best help.
Take Action
Join the ASPCA in the fight against animal cruelty
today.
Become a Monthly Member
{https:Hsecure.aspga.org/donate/join?
ms=wb rig otherways&initialms=wb rig otherwayl&pcode=
Take the Cruelty Pledge
.(httr)s:Hsecure.aspga.org/take-action/pjedge-
fight-cruel y2
ms=wb rig otherways&initialms=wb rig otherwaya)
Join the Advocacy Brigade
.(https:Hsecure.aspga.org/take-
action/advocacy-brigade?ms=wb rig links-
advocacy-briaade-
20230407&initialms=wb rig links-advocacy_
brigade-20230407).
Advocate for Animals
.(https://www.aspga.orglget-
involved/advocacy:genter),
Volunteer or Foster
.(https://www.aspga.orglget-
involved/volunteer).
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NEw! This publication is now available in Spanish and French.
The Vacuum Effect has been documented worldwide in m X p How can we help you with cats?
traditional approach has been to catch and kill community cats. While this may temporarav
reduce the number of community cats in a given area, it is ultimately counterproductive.
the population of cats rebounds. Due to the Vacuum Effect, entrapped cats continue to
breed, and other cats move into the newly available territory.
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THE VACUUM EFFECT
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Community cats, also called feral or outdoor cats, are not a new phenomenon. They reside in
an outdoor location where they have access to food and shelter. Even though community
cats are the same species as house cats (Fells catus), they have not been socialized to
people and are therefore unadoptable. Community cats can lead full, healthy lives in their
outdoor homes.
Time and again, communities ! catch and a doesn't o: .it a
o stop.
Municipal animal control agencies have been catching and killing cats for decades in a
misguided attempt to reduce the number of community cats in a given area. Catch and kill is
counterproductive, as it has no permanent impact on the population of outdoor cats. This
endless, cruel cycle is not supported by the public, wastes tax dollars, and fails to meet the
needs of the cats and the community. The Vacuum Effect
is just one reason catch and kill is so ineffective.
Communities are desperate for humane solutions. TNR is the only effective and humane
approach to address community cat populations. it involves humanely trapping, spaying or
neutering, vaccinating, and returning community cats to their outdoor homes. Afterward,
there are no more litters of kittensthe population is stabilized. TNR stops the stress
associated with pregnancy and mating behaviors, such as yowling or fighting. Not only is
TNR the effective, humane approach for outdoor cats, but it improves their lives.
Together, we can fight the ineffective catch and kill approach, support TNR, and ensure local
policies address the needs of outdoor cats and our communities.
11— —
THEVACUM EFFECT
JUST THE FACTS: The Vacuum
Effect
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Cards are sold in packs of 25 and printed
on 100% post -consumer paper with
environmentally friendly inks.
Tell Us What You Think Printer Friendly Ver5ian
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Dave waogomr
Mayor
City of Laurel, Montana
(406) 628-8456 extension 5501
From: BOB <johnstonbj4c@gmaii.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 1, 2023 9:28 AM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: Stray cats
Please help out Savage cat, to trap and fix strays. I live on Mullberry ave.in Laurel. There are a lot of strays down here.
Thanks
Bob Johnston 708 Mullberry
1
�L City Mayor
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 3:50 PM
Kelly Strecker
auQJe " FW: Savage cat rescue
Dave Waggov4er
Mayor
City of Laurel, Montana
(406) 628-8456 extension 5501
From: Nikki Dell <nikkide1166@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 1, 2023 3:49 PM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: Re: Savage cat rescue
516 3rd Ave. Laurel Mt 59044
Thank you
On Tue, Aug 1, 2023 at 3:45 PM City Mayor <citvmayor@laurel.mt.eov> wrote:
I need your address for the record please
From: Nikki Dell <nikkidell66@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2023 11:57 PM
To: City Mayor <citvmayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: Savage cat rescue
Good evening City council,
1
My Name is Nicole Dell and I've been a resident of Laurel from the day I was born! I'm writing this in hopes you will
hear out Savage Cats request for financial help. I've been blessed to have met Lori before and she's truly been an
inspiration to me.
Her tiny rescue has already taken on so very many of laurels finest cats.... Some she's been fortunate enough to reunite
with their owners (yay!), many kittens, and some cats in absolutely horrible condition.
We as residents of Laurel are very limited as to options when it comes to stray cats as I'm sure you are well aware of.
And Laurel really needs the help of such a rescue as Lori's. I don't believe these cats should be left to suffer and without
Lori I'm sad to think of what their fates might be.
As a fellow resident I say once more PLEASE support Savage Cat Rescue Laurel needs this!
From:
City Mayor
To:
Orittnev Moorman
Subject:
Fwd: Feral cats
Date:
Thursday, July 13, 2023 10:31:44 AM
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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From: Douglas Powell <powelldouglasj@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2023 10:23:06 AM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: Feral cats
Hello Mr Wagner
My name is Douglas Powell. I am a resident of Laurel MT. I live in the trailer park off of
Yard Office Rd. My address is 2315 E. Maryland Ln.
I am writing to you to ask for your help in resolving a problem. About 2 months ago I called
the Laurel animal control about a feral cat problem. There were about 10 cats in my yard. The
officer I spoke to told me that there is NO ordinance for cats and referred me to Lorie Howard.
She does cat rescue. She came and helped me.
Your Chief of Police, Stan Langve, has stated "Laurel doesn't have a feral cat problem". That
simply is not true. There are ALOT of stray cats where I live. We tax payers in Laurel need an
ordinance for cats like we have for dogs. It takes funding. Lorie Howard. who lives in Billings
has been working on our cat issues and has dealt with about 200 cats in the past 18 months
without any financial help from the City of Laurel. She simply can't keep doing it for free.
How does one go about getting an ordinance and funding for this issue?
Please call ine at 406-281-3717 at your earliest convenience sir. Thank you in advance for
your time and help resolve this issue. Douglas Powell.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on An
From: ON Mayo
To: BHttney Moorman
Subject: Fwd: Savage Cat Rescue
Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:22:38 AM
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From: Emineth Barb <basecme@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 9, 2023 1:38:41 PM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: Savage Cat Rescue
Laurel absolutely has a Ferrell cat problem and this organization needs the support of our city
as well as individuals. Jodi Mackay should be letting me know when I can come to council
and speak on this important issue! Respectfully, Barb Emineth
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
From: City Mavor
To: Brittney Moorman
Subject: Fwd: Stray Cats in Laurel
Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:22:23 AM
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android
From: Kelsie Robbie <kelsie.robbie@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2023 12:03:48 PM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: Stray Cats in Laurel
Dear Mayor Waggoner,
I am writing you to address the stray cat problem in our neighborhood. We live on Durland Ave and
take pride in keeping a nice curb appeal to our home. We understand that the South Side is an older
neighborhood and not everyone will take pride in their homes but us and serval other families on our
block work really hard to make it a nice place. With that being said the alley cats are getting out of
control. We have lived in our home for 5 years and they have always been a problem but it is getting
worse. We have nice patio furniture that is constantly peed/pooped on by these cats. We have
invested in patios furniture covers but that will pee/poop on those too. We have been woken up
many nights do to cat fights on our patio. We have a privacy fence and have tried many "cat
repellent" options but nothing is working. I called the city and they referred me to Savage Cat rescue
but she will no long take them. We were also told to live trap them and dispose of them humanely
but we wouldn't be asked to do that if it were a stray dog.
We work so hard to keep our little home nice and a clean, fun backyard for our daughter. We just
want a solution for this problem.
Thank you,
Kelsie Robbie
From;
City Mayor
To:
Brittnev Moorman
Subject:
Fwd: Stray cats
Date:
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:22:52 AM
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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From: Jenna Jacoutot <jennajacoutot20@grnail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 8, 2023 9:16:13 AM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: Stray cats
Hello, good morning.
I was just wondering what services are available in regards to stray and abandoned cats in the
Laurel area?
We see so many just running around. So many breeding and giving birth to kittens. Do we just
let them reproduce to the extent that they get sick? A number of years ago there was a culling
of cats because They all had distemper an no owners. For public health cats were rounded up
and euthanised I do believe. It would be a shame to have it come back to that because of our
lack of support.
Thank you for your time,
- Laurel resident Jenna
From:
City Magor
To:
Brittnev Moorman
Subject:
Fwd:
Date:
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:21:43 AM
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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From: Jan Patenaude <janjanpat@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 1:01:17 PM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject:
I sincerely hope you will agree to help Lorie Savage (Savage Cat Rescue). She is a Godsend
for stray cats.
We live east of Laurel and discovered that we had a mother cat and two kittens under our
mobile home in Oct 21. She is the only person that responded to my request for help. She
humanely trapped them and took them home to be vaccinated and adopted. We have 3 totally
indoors cats. It breaks my heart to see all of the strays in Laurel. Lorie is doing a wonderful
job attacking the problem of wild strays, getting them neutered and vaccinated as well as
feeding them til they are adopted.
We need to have her work here continue.
Thank you
From:
City Mayer
To:
Brittney Moorman
Subject:
Fwd: CATS!!!
Date:
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:23:11 AM
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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From: snowjmpr@aol.com <snowjmpr@aol.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 8:07:51 PM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: CATS! !!
Dear Mayor and City Council:
In February 2022 we noticed considerable cat activity in our neighborhood that we have lived
in for 23 years. Several kittens in our yard and at one time, 2 cats mating and 3 were
"waiting". Didn't want our dog to injure, or, be injured by a protective momma cat so I bought
a humane cat trap from Amazon and when it arrived I just stared at it because I had no clue
what I was doing. As good fortune would have it, someone told me about a new cat rescue in
the Laurel area called Savage Cat Rescue and I wasted no time contacting them! Lorie
educated me as we set her traps in a known cat rendezvous area. It was cold, very cold. After
about 2 hours I checked the trap and we had a big Tom cat in it! Battle scarred, dehydrated,
hungry! Over the course of 3 creeks we captured four more cats! Feral.
Female cats can start breeding at the age of 4 months and can become pregnant just a few days
after giving birth to a litter. The population can explode exponentially if not controlled.
Lori took care of the feral cat population in this neighborhood humanely. Each cat was vetted,
immunized, chipped, and ear tipped(visually indicating spayed or neutered), and adopted out if
it could be a house cat or adopted out as a barn cat so it could work for its shelter, water, and
food. She is not only working to control the cat population, but also to decrease the spread of
feline disease.
I would greatly encourage the city council to support her request for $3,500 per year from the
city of Laurel to continue to reduce the feral cat population and therefore reduce the risks
associated with them. Her successful work in the past year and a half speaks for itself.
Betsy Snow
Laurel resident
From: ON Mavor
To: Bdttney Moorman
Subject: Fwd: In Support of Savage Cat Rescue Inc.
Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 9:22:03 AM
Attachments: imaoe001.ono
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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From: Heather Holley <heather@bmslawmt.com>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2023 4:47:57 PM
To: City Mayor <citymayor@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject: In Support of Savage Cat Rescue Inc.
Good afternoon Mr. Mayor,
My name is Heather Holley. I am a legal assistant for a firm in Billings Montana.
I have lived in Laurel since January 2012 with my husband, four kids and our pets. I have lived most
of my life in Montana.
We love living in Laurel. Love the people, love the small-town feel, the convenience of having
schools within walking distance and the great people.
I am very much an animal lover of all sorts, as I think you may be too, especially with your most
recent post regarding the orphaned fawns.
I enjoy the fact that you engage with everyone, seem open and honest with the community. The
community of Laurel is of your best interest, and I appreciate that.
I will be unable to attend then next city council meeting, but I would like to have my voice heard
regarding something I find incredibly important.
When I moved to Laurel, up until roughly 8 months ago, we had cats fighting in our alley and yard
literally every single day and night. I would be woken up every night and have to go out and break up
the giant gangs of unfixed male cats so that I could get some rest. We had cat poop in our yards.
There were often deceased cats along the sides of main street leaving town etc.
I love kitties and so many of them suffer due to the fact that we as humans have let them down.
Since Lorie has come to the rescue it has been a complete 180! 1 haven't heard a single cat fight in
probably 8 months! I have noticed less young cats running the street. Lorie has been a god send! She
has finally made a decent enough dent in the stray/feral cat community that we are noticing a
difference. Cats like many other animals breed incredibly quick and unfortunately if we lose Lorie we
will be right back to where we were in no time.
I ask that you please take into consideration what she is asking, we are asking for.
Lorie is asking the city to only contribute one third of the cost of taking in, vetting and adopting or
returning to owner. That doesn't even cover any extra costs.
She has requested $3,500 from the city of Laurel to cover an estimated 120 cats for this year. I
honestly wouldn't be surprised if she ends up assisting more. It is surprising to me that we do not
have resources provided at all from the city regarding this matter. Especially since most towns (even
towns smaller than Laurel) have something in place regarding stray animals. Many others and I in
and outside of the community help her as much as we can but she really needs assistance from the
city. The Laurel Police Department refer any and all calls regarding cats directly to her without
consent or assistance. She has graciously given her time and resources to help us out. She has finally
put her foot down and will no longer help Laurel if she is not supported by the city, and rightfully so.
Once she leaves, the cat population will begin to rise again. Large cat colonies can suffer from pretty
nasty diseases which can easily spread, including to cats that have loving and caring homes. What
Lorie is doing is positive for the community and I would love to see her be supported. We need
her!!!!! I feel as though $3,500.00 for a whole year is a drop in the bucket.
Please take my support into consideration. I know there are MANY others who feel the same and I
sincerely hope they reach out to you or attend the meeting.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Legal Assistant
Billstein, Monson & Small PLLC
1555 Campus Way, Suite 201
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 656-6551
heathery bmslawmt.com
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