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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has greenlit a directive known as the 鈥淭rap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release” program, facilitating third-party involvement in the spay and neutering process for the county鈥檚 feral cat population in tandem with the Animal Services Center.
The board approved the directive on July 14 by a 7-1 vote, with Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega dissenting.
During this week’s work session, Woodbridge District Supervisor Jeannie LaCroix introduced the directive as a means of mitigating Prince William鈥檚 abundant feral cat population, which currently exceeds 50,000.
鈥淥ur animal shelter is not able to hold them all right now,鈥� LaCroix said from the dais. 鈥淲e have other organizations that really are wanting to and willing to do the work for us 鈥� so that鈥檚 what my directive is about, allowing them to use these funds.鈥�
Vega objected to the directive, noting that it presented an off-cycle budget ask.聽The Coles supervisor also underscored existing funds for the center’s HVAC have gone unused.
County Executive Chris Shorter said money already allocated in the fiscal 2026 budget had indeed remained untouched, but said the unspent funds would enter the county鈥檚 reserves per the board鈥檚 Principles of Sound Financial Management.
Shorter said the directive instructs staff to provide a new 鈥減ot of money鈥� to allow for contract relationships with third-party animal services organizations that will assist the county in providing neuter services.
鈥淚t is additional funding 鈥� [that] will do the same thing that we鈥檙e doing at the Animal Services Center,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut it will increase the capacity to do so.鈥�
According to the directive, 鈥淭he fiscal 2027 budget includes $48,000 to support approximately 50 spay/neuter procedures per month (600 cats annually). However, with an estimated feral cat population approaching 50,000 in Prince William County, additional capacity is needed to address the current community need.鈥�
The directive allocates “up to” a further $48,000 for the program.
Shortly before the vote, Chair Deshundra Jefferson voiced her support for the measure.
鈥淚 support this 鈥� I know that this is something that we need,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淭hank you for raising your concerns about the financial implications.鈥�
