City Ordinance Causing Complications For Enid Animal Lover

Jerry Zaloudek has always had a love for animals. But now that love could come at a new price, one in addition to the one she's been paying for the past 10 years.

"Someone's gotta do it. Someone's gotta take care of these animals around here," said Zaloudek, owner of JB Liquor.  

It's a hairy situation at JB Liquor in Enid. For the past 10 years, Zaloudek has fed about 30 stray cats that wander around her store.

"This is where I feed them and I put a trap door in here so they can come in and out," Zaloudek said.

At night Zaloudek opens up what she calls the ‘Kitty Hotel': a covered garage complete with heated food and water, scratch pads, and cages.

"And they keep coming back," said Zaloudek.

But that's just scratching the surface for Zaloudek. For the last three years she's brought in a vet to spay and neuter the cats, right in the back hallway of the liquor store.

"They won't be reproducing. That's the main thing," Zaloudek said.

She's gained support from the local SPCA.

"By doing that we will decrease the population in a healthy way," said Vickie Grantz with the ESPCA. 

But current law says what she's doing is not allowed. Enid city ordinance 5-7A-2 states that no person who cares for any dog or cat shall fail to confine that dog or cat.

"He said it's against the law and I said I know, but I still do it," said Zaloudek. "People should take care of their own animals. If people would do that than we wouldn't have this problem."

Zaloudek was facing a hefty fine from the city, but this week the city council decided not to pounce on the liquor store owner.

"What Jerry is doing is a great thing and we've decided to rewrite the ordinance and still let the city trap any cats at neighbors' requests," Enid City Councilman, Dr. David Vanhooser, said.

As for a price tag on caring for all those cats that long, Zaloudek estimates that over 10 years she's easily spent over $20,000.