March 22- Code Enforcement
Protecting Community Cats: Law and Policy Considerations

Speaker: Richard Angelo

This session will give an overview of definitions and key provisions of local ordinances that can make or break a community cat program. Additional model drafting considerations regarding community cat programs wills be covered. Review and discussion regarding issues commonly related to these ordinances, such as the problem with feeding bans, and progressive nuisance-related provisions. The program will also address state statutory schemes as well as pertinent Federal statutory and regulatory schemes, and how those may affect considerations for ordinance drafting and enforcement.

Speaker: Richard Angelo

Richard Angelo is a legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society. Focusing on Best Friends’ community cat initiatives, Richard promotes legislation that will humanely and directly reduce the killing of cats in shelters across the country. He was previously a sole practitioner with an office in Davison, Michigan, focusing on companion animal–related matters and litigation, including dangerous dog matters, alternatives to breed-specific legislation, ownership disputes about companion animals, and zoning and ordinance violations regarding companion animals. He has been a member of the animal law section of the State Bar of Michigan and has served as a council member of that section since 2009. He is also a member of the National Animal Care and Control Association, the American Bar Association, the TIPS Animal Law Committee, and the newly formed international law section of the Animal Law Committee. In addition to his work for Best Friends, Richard volunteers at his local animal control shelter and several other animal welfare organizations in Michigan. Richard resides in Goodrich, Michigan, with his wife, three dogs and three cats.