Dear Editor:
I would like to commend Jimplecute editor Hugh Lewis for his July 25, 2025 article concerning the recent city of Jefferson City ordinance regarding the feeding of wild animals.
I find his analysis and commentary spot on, with one distinction. My legal interpretation of the following provision of the ordinance is more troubling than even Hugh imagined:
It states:
“It shall be unlawful for any person to feed wild animals, birds, stray animals or feral/community cats, regardless of age, sex or temperament.”
This is a stand alone section of the ordinance and is unaffected by any additional provisions. This opinion is based on the immediately following sentence that begins : “It shall also be unlawful …..”
As such, as the ordinance was drafted and enacted it is now illegal for anyone to have a bird feeder or even hummingbird feeder on their own property.
The subsequent provisions of the ordinance also makes it illegal for a neighbor to replenish a bird feeder or even hummingbird feeder while Kim and I are traveling, or for us to reciprocate with them.
It was probably not intended to be drafted as strictly as such, but that is the language of the ordinance, as passed.
Fortunately, the ordinance was based on a non-existent Texas Health and Safety Code Section 22.0422, rendering it totally unenforceable.
In my 30+ years of working with legislation at the local, state and federal level never have I seen such a poorly drafted ordinance. Jefferson, its taxpayers, and, most importantly, its four legged residents. deserve so much better than this.
Steven G. Shaw
Attorney at Law
502 Taylor Street
Jefferson, Texas 75657
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