More than a year and a half after Dunmore adopted legislation intended to curb its feral cat population, the program has trapped, neutered and returned more than 100 animals, with grant funding helping the town reimburse residents.
Borough council voted in February 2024 to adopt a feral cat ordinance requiring anyone who feeds the animals to have them spayed or neutered through a trap-neuter-return program, or TNR, which involves spaying or neutering the cats, ear tipping, and rabies and distemper shots. Ear tipping involves removing the tip of a cat’s ear to easily identify that it has been spayed or neutered.
The borough then reimburses residents for the $50 cost of treating a feral cat. Anyone caught feeding the animals without participating in a TNR program faces an initial fine of $100, followed by a $500 fine for every 30 days they remain noncompliant. Violators who remain noncompliant could also be subject to borough officials entering their property to trap the cats, according to the ordinance.
Frequent complaints about feral cats prompted the legislation.
So far, they have treated about 150 cats, said Councilwoman Katherine Mackrell Oven, who helped spearhead the legislation. It’s been very successful, she said.
“There’s still a decent amount of cats, but we’re chipping away at locations,” Oven said. “I’m so thankful for people that do trap and are responsible, and I’m thankful for the people that volunteer to help us in Dunmore, because we couldn’t do it without them.”
The Robert H. Spitz Foundation gave the borough a $4,000 grant for the program, which the town quickly spent, she said. The Spitz Foundation is a tax-exempt, private foundation that supports initiatives and programs serving residents of Lackawanna County and Northeast Pennsylvania; the Scranton Area Community Foundation is the administrator of the foundation, according to the foundation’s website.
“That was a huge help as well,” Oven said.
Residents must show proof that they fixed a cat by presenting the borough with a receipt and confirming they have a Dunmore address. Once confirmed, the borough will issue them a check for reimbursement, Oven said.
While they’ve reduced the numbers of feral cats by stopping them from reproducing, Oven said the borough is still constantly dealing with people feeding the animals without having them spayed or neutered.
“We have issued fines,” she said.
Dunmore has worked with Indraloka Animal Sanctuary’s NEPA Rescue Veterinary Clinic and the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, she said.
“They’ve really helped out because they’ll do these feral cat days where we can bring more than just one cat,” she said. “That’s been a huge help.”
Some residents also take cats to the Eastern Pennsylvania Animal Alliance’s mobile clinic for spaying and neutering, which works with St. Cats and Dogs at the former Nay Aug Park zoo.
“Between those three, we’ve been able to put a dent in the feral cat population in Dunmore,” Oven said.
Towns throughout Lackawanna County have adopted similar legislation in recent years, including Archbald, Blakely, Jessup, Moosic and Taylor.
Originally Published: October 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM EDT