What is a feral cat?

Feral cats are cats that are not owned by any individuals. They do not go into someones home and often unable to be handled by humans. If the cat is friendly and goes in out of homes, that cat is either owned or a stray cat. 

What can I do about feral cats in my neighborhood?

If you trap a feral cat, you can bring it in to South Bend Animal Resource Center.  The feral cat will then be ear clipped and spayed or neutered and released back into the community.  

Where are feral cats released?

Feral cats are trapped, ear tipped, and spayed/neutered and returned to the same neighborhood that they came from. 

Who traps the feral cats?

Individual residents can trap feral cats if they have traps. Live traps can be rented from SBARC for a refundable deposit of 50.00.  SBARC will not pick up cats in capture cages, cats must be brought to the South Bend Animal Resource Center during normal business hours.  Citizens must provide a valid photo ID upon surrendering.  

Why will the feral cats be returned back to the same neighborhood? 

Cat communities are kept in the same neighborhood that they came from to increase their likelihood of survival. They are spayed and neutered to maintain the cat population, instead of letting it increase.

311 Process Notes

For emergency situations, please call x9309 or 574-220-5425.

Individual residents can trap feral cats if they have humane live traps. Live traps can be rented from SBARC for a refundable deposit of 50.00.  SBARC will not pick up cats in capture cages, cats must be brought to the South Bend Animal Resource Center during normal business hours.  Citizens must provide a valid photo ID upon surrendering.  

If a citizen wants to complain about a neighbor feeding stray or free roaming cats, 311 may dispatch an AWO (Animal Welfare Officer) to the address of the person feeding free roaming cats.    

Please enter a case in PetPoint for an officer to review the property.

1. Login to the PetPoint webpage with your credentials
   1. Shelter ID: USIN57
2. From the top ribbon, click on
   1. Case
   2. Add Case
3. Under the Details tab in Case Details, please enter:
   1. Case Category: Incident
   2. Case Type: Enforcement
   3. Case Subtype: Welfare Check
   4. Case Status: Open
   5. Case Officer: Call for Service
   6. Additional Information: Any applicable call notes
   7. Street Address: Location of the incident
      1. If needed, utilize 311 Reference Map to find address
   8. Zip Code: Enter Zip Code for the location and click on the green arrows button
      1. Clicking on the green arrow button will populate the city and City Alias
   9. Cross Street: Enter the nearest cross street to the listed address, keep blank if reporting an intersection
   10. Type of Location: Enter applicable location type from the dropdown
   11. Number of Animals: Number related to the case
   12. Person Reporting Info: Add name and/or Phone Number
       1. If wanting to report anonymously, please enter “Anonymous”
   13. Click the green “Save” button at the bottom of the page
4. Under the Activities tab in Activity Details, please enter:
   1. Activity Type: Dispatch
   2. Activity Subtype: Welfare Check
   3. Priority: Normal is standard, adjust for situation
   4. Activity Owner: Call for Service
   5. Click the green “Save” button at the bottom of the page
5. After clicking the green “Save” button, the page should refresh and the case has dispatched to SBARC