Resident urges town-backed trap-neuter-return program and a donation fund for feral cats

A Tunbridge resident described an ongoing volunteer effort to trap, spay/neuter and return feral cats and asked the selectboard to create a town-managed donation fund to cover veterinary costs. The resident said a nearby veterinarian has offered low-cost spay/neuter and rabies vaccination services and proposed posting project information on the town website.

"I would I would like to be the official of the family cat catcher," the resident said, asking for a formal town channel to receive donations, coordinate traps and post updates. Board members agreed the selectboard should consider a modest town-managed fund (similar to a prior town fundraising process) and asked the resident to meet with trustees and later return with a formal request for an agenda item. The board also suggested the resident consult state-level animal-welfare contacts for guidance on structure and liability.

No formal vote was taken; the board asked staff to schedule the proposal on a future meeting agenda and to explore creating a donation account and website page for the effort.