Residents of Frackville who feed wild animals, like pigeons and other birds, as well as feral cats, could be fined if their activity causes a public nuisance.
On Thursday, Borough Council members voted unanimously, 5-0, to give Frackville’s Code Enforcement Officer the ability to enforce the Pennsylvania Borough Code and the borough’s ordinance on feeding wild and stray animals.
Council members are specifically targeting people who are feeding birds, namely pigeons, and feral cats.
Residents could be cited if their feeding of wild animals threatens the “preservation of the health, general welfare, cleanliness, and safety of the Borough.” Basically, the ordinance will be enforced when it’s deemed that a resident’s feeding of these animals becomes a public nuisance.
According to Councilman Ed Benashunas, there seems to be an issue with some residents feeding pigeons. When these problematic pigeons aren’t eating, they’re camping out on neighboring rooftops and causing damage.
The ordinance, according to other council members and Frackville’s Solicitor, also applies to the feeding of feral cats.
It’ll be up to the Borough’s Code Enforcement Officer when a resident is cited and possibly fined for feeding these animals.
Fines, Semanchik said, could range between $300-600 and it’ll be up to the local Magisterial District Court Judge how much a person is fined for a violation.
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Fedupconseravtive
July 11, 2025 at 8:37 am
One of the dumbest laws I’ve ever seen. So God’s creatures don’t deserve a little help when they need it. What a shame.
Champhibian
July 12, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Feeding such animals actually harms more of God’s creatures than it helps. Pigeons get overpopulated, spread disease to other birds and run them off their own nesting sites. To say nothing of what cats do, dropping fleas and killing every small thing. This feeding activity is for nothing but emotional self-satisfaction and self-entertainment.
Fedupconseravtive
July 14, 2025 at 8:10 am
OK so giving an animal food harms more of God’s creatures according to you. Pigeons I can agree with. Self satisfaction or self entertainment? It’s called having compassion, something which you apparently don’t have.
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