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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A group that&#8217;s been taking steps to control the proliferation of feral cats won&#8217;t ask the city for monetary help, only cooperation to continue its efforts, its president informed city council Thursday.</p><p>Brenda Buckler of Whiskers World said the local organization will trap, spay, administer rabies shots, tag and release the cats as it&#8217;s been doing for years. Last year, 218 were taken care of in the city, she said.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re not asking the city now for any money,&#8221; Buckler told council at its public meeting. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re not going to do anything about (Trap Neuter Return), especially this year and maybe you&#8217;re not going to.&#8221;</p><p>Buckler spoke to council after volunteers with a nonprofit that&#8217;s been dealing with feral cats came to Tuesday&#8217;s work session and proposed a per-animal fee for the service it provides.</p><p>&#8220;We will continue to do the T-N-R. We will go into problem areas. What we&#8217;re asking is some cooperation to let us be able to do this,&#8221; Buckler said.</p><p>Buckler added that she was thrilled to hear the city wanted to meet with her organization.</p><p>&#8220;So we&#8217;re not all on the same page yet and it&#8217;s probably imperative that we all sit down and get it down before we go any further,&#8221;said City Administrator Rick Gazenski.</p><p>Council approved the two items on its agenda and temporarily suspended the ban and enforcement of the open consumption of alcoholic beverages for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Kirby Park on April 27-28 and the Rockin&#8217; the River concerts on July 12, 19 and 26 in a yet-to-be determined location.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre resident Sam Troy asked council to oppose the suspensions, saying: &#8220;You&#8217;re setting the stage for problems afterwards.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Volunteer group offers to take care of WB’s feral cats without city funding