The COVID-19 pandemic led farmers across the country to dump thousands of gallons of milk and destroy millions of pounds of fresh produce, as . A food surplus caused by a panicked rush on grocery stores led farmers to lose produce rather than lose profits. Nearby food banks could not store the vast amounts of excess food, and shipping costs to other storage areas proved to be too expensive.聽

In Montgomery County, the Office of Agriculture reported farms, deemed as essential businesses, did not shut down along with the rest of the world, meaning production churned out food that had nowhere to go.

Additionally, commercialization of farms and a push away from small, local businesses spells out ruin for family-owned farms. Global food company Danone it would terminate all contracts with small organic dairy farmers in the Northeast by August 2022.聽

Consolidations like this push out small farms like the ones in Montgomery County and replace them with more commercialized enterprises, according to dairy farmer Abbie Corse.

Yet, Montgomery County has implemented protective measures over the years for its historic, family-owned farms.

History at stake

The designated 93,000 acres 鈥� encompassing nearly a third of Montgomery County鈥檚 land 鈥� as the Agricultural Reserve. The decree reserved historic farmland and encouraged conservation methods. The Agricultural Reserve preserves farmland from being subdivided, even if ownership changes, and protects Montgomery County鈥檚 public water supply.

Out of the county鈥檚 1,026 total agricultural producers, all of the 558 farms that call the Agricultural Reserve home are family-owned, according to Jeremy Criss, Director of the .

may not represent the quintessential idea of a farm with a red barn and animals, but the crop and turf farm has been a family owned and operated enterprise in the Agricultural Reserve since 1970. All three Jamison sons currently work at the homestead, a tradition many family farms don鈥檛 see today.

Mike Jamison, one of the Jamison sons and manager of the farm鈥檚 precision agricultural technologies, prioritizes innovative ways to produce more on less acreage. Land surface comprises 29% of the globe, but only 11% of that land is used for crop production, according to the .

鈥�That鈥檚 a very small portion of the globe that can be utilized for food production, and arable land is being lost daily to development, erosion and pollution, among other factors,鈥� Jamison said. 鈥淚f you did away with all of those farms, you鈥檇 be just another metropolis in the area that isn鈥檛 unique.鈥�

Neighboring farm has been family run since 1888. Owners Robert and Linda Lewis took over operations from Robert鈥檚 grandmother in 2001.

Linda Lewis said farmers are gamblers, because the family鈥檚 ability to put food on the table relies on crop yield and the ability to sell and profit off of it. Farming families face a lack of income during dead and planting seasons, about half the year.

鈥淎 lot of risk is involved and there isn鈥檛 always a guarantee that you鈥檙e going to make money that year, and so it鈥檚 got to be a leap of faith,鈥� Jamison said. He went on to say farms could benefit greatly from government financial assistance.

A sought to financially assist farmers markets, specialty producers and meat processors who suffered losses due to the pandemic, between Jan. 27, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021. The program was developed in response to in March 2021, and allocated approximately $650 million for grants to alleviate farmers鈥� losses.

Criss and the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture estimate around 75 farmers from Montgomery County applied for the grant.

Local problems, local solutions

conducted by Montgomery County in 2017 found that 70,150 residents were considered to be food insecure. One of every three children in the public school system qualified for free or discounted lunches. The situation became more dire during the pandemic, with 100,000 residents considered food insecure by March 2020, and 86% of food banks reported having insufficient supplies, according to .

Yet, food waste accounted for nearly 23%, or 146,000 tons, of Montgomery County鈥檚 solid waste, according to , a program by nonprofit . The unused food contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as wasted resources people needed.

Montgomery County Food Council offered a solution, partnering with Manna Food Center and other organizations, in the . A direct outcome of problems posed by the pandemic, the program partners with 33 Montgomery County family-owned farms to transport 112,235 pounds of would-be wasted food to over 30 food assistance providers. The result has created over 90,000 meals for community members in need.

Farm to Food Bank being a success, the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture renewed the program for 2022 in early November. Participating farms may receive grants of up to $10,000 each that cover the costs of equipment and storage facilities that directly relate to increasing production. Applications for the 2022 program are due by Nov. 30.

The future of farming

Family-owned farms traditionally passed through generation to generation, said Gabe Scott of upcoming Landmade Beer, a local farm to table brewery in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 happened is that, now with all this technology advancing, the kids are going to college and coming back saying, 鈥楬ey Mom and Dad, I actually don鈥檛 want to be a farmer,鈥欌�� Scott said.

Though the younger generation isn鈥檛 returning to farm life, new families have decided to try their hand.

Scott and his wife Amanda were living in New York City when Amanda鈥檚 parents, who bought historic farmland a few years prior, explored the idea of opening up a brewery on the land. Thus, was put into motion, a mixture of traditional farm life with a modern enterprise.

Scott said the family, although not farmers themselves, is going to do whatever it takes to propel the land鈥檚 history and traditions forward. Besides using the ingredients that grow in the Agricultural Reserve, Scott wants to maintain the historic farm the brewery exists on.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not knocking down farm buildings to build a brewery,鈥� Scott said. The brewery鈥檚 tasting room resides in a repurposed cattle station, with minor improvements like a fresh coat of paint and indoor renovations. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the Ag Reserve, and so we want to respect that,鈥� Scott said.

Scott said the brewery鈥檚 timeline has faced some obstacles, largely due to supply chain issues. 鈥淲e鈥檙e having a hard time sourcing disposable, eco-friendly plastic cups,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a specific LED light bulb that we need, and it鈥檚 nowhere to be found.鈥�

The challenges have set back the original November opening date. 鈥淭here鈥檚 things we鈥檙e having a really hard time sourcing, and we鈥檙e getting some really ominous warnings as far as how long this is going to be,鈥� Scott said.

Scott said the issues have not been detrimental, but have led his team to become a bit more creative. 鈥淭he time is now for us to try to recover, try to bounce back, and try to get people out of their houses and seeing each other again,鈥� Scott said.

Despite every issue faced, Scott is hopeful for the future, believing it鈥檚 time to bring the community back together.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 think that there鈥檚 any better way to do that than eating and drinking together.鈥�

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Roughly one in four veterans experienced at least some difficulty in adjusting to life after the military, a rate that nearly doubles among the post-9/11 generation, according to a .

The unemployment rate among veterans is also increasing, according to . Since the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, unemployment among veterans rose in October from 3.9% to 4.2%.

鈥淔inding a job isn’t as easy [for veterans] as it is for my civilian friends,鈥� said Varintorn Wandeevong, U.S. Navy cook based in Bethesda, Maryland. Wandeevong described himself as an advocate for people exiting the military.

Advocates like Wandeevong say access to opportunities and commitment to new life paths is vital to success after leaving the service. But they say some veterans struggle with transferring their expertise into marketable skills, as well as finding purpose or passion for vocations outside of the military

Redefining identity

Part of the problem is the severed emotional connection some veterans have to the military lifestyle, according to Eileen Huck, a government relations official for the National Military Family Association.

Most civilians understand the financial hardships some veterans face when leaving the military, Huck said, but issues stemming from the loss of that connection are not as widely acknowledged.

One such issue, Huck said, is the need for veterans to redefine their personal identities.

鈥淓ven after a short period in the military, the sense of mission and camaraderie is so strong that it can be difficult to establish who you are and what you want after you leave,鈥� Huck said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge to think what comes next.鈥�

Huck, whose husband recently retired after 29 years in the Navy, said part of that challenge is due to the amount of newfound freedom.
Where one lives, wardrobe and hairstyle choices, daily social interactions – decisions that active duty personnel generally don鈥檛 grapple with on a regular basis, Huck said.

鈥淭he ability to make those personal choices is freeing, but can also be intimidating,鈥� Huck said.

Federal services make help available

U.S. Navy veteran Ray Meinhardt uses services offered at the VA, but said he frequently experiences high wait times. He argues the amount of available services is crucial to help veterans succeed.

鈥淎ccessibility is the most important part,鈥� Meinhardt said.

According to Wandeevong, one such overlooked federal program aims to help the thousands of former service members secure jobs. The Veterans’ Employment & Training Service, or VETS, provides free workshops for veterans and military spouses with the goal of reaching consistent employment.

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) first enrolls veterans in a one-day employment preparation workshop, according to its website.
鈥淏efore a service member transitions, they are taught everything that was provided within the military, what the civilian counterparts are and how to apply,鈥� Wandeevong said

The Department of Labor-funded program typically takes place two or three weeks before service members process out of the military, according to Wandeevong. Veterans participate in the workshop with their peers, allowing them to coordinate with each other or their instructors.

Following the initial mandatory workshop, veterans have the opportunity to participate in two additional TAP programs, according to the program鈥檚 website. One program is for career exploration and technical career preparation, while the other is for general employment preparation.

That preparation is crucial, Huck said, because a hurdle that veterans often face when searching for employment is converting their military experience into relevant skills.

An Army infantry veteran for example might have trouble explaining to employers how their tactical or leadership expertise might translate to daily office responsibilities, Huck said.

鈥淢ilitary culture is just different from corporate culture,鈥� Huck said. 鈥淚t takes understanding from both sides to make that transition work.鈥�

Another federal program with the goal of aiding the transition is HIRE Vets Medallion Program, which recognizes more than 800 businesses that invest in recruiting and employing veterans. According to the program鈥檚 website, it is the only federal veteran鈥檚 employment award that honors organizations鈥� commitment to veteran employee retention and professional development.

Wandeevong says that while he advocates for peers to have an employment plan upon exiting the military, job opportunities are not always accessible.

鈥淎ll I can understand right now is that the job market isn’t as open as it’s put out on the news,鈥� Wandeevong said. 鈥淚t’s like pulling teeth sometimes to get an interview.鈥�

Wandeevong said he encourages veterans to use services like VETS and HIRE, which work in tandem to find solutions veterans may need.

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The county initially for public spaces after seven consecutive days of moderate transmission, or below 50 cases per day, effective Oct. 28 at 12:01 a.m.聽

Though Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich reported substantial transmission rates, or over 50 cases per day, the following day on Oct. 29, he held off reinstating the mask mandate until the council could hold a public hearing on Nov. 1.

The Montgomery County Council then again at the hearing to include criteria which makes it more difficult to reinstate the mask mandate.

Whereas previously a single day of substantial transmission rates would immediately recall the mask mandate into effect, the county now requires there to be a week of high transmission rates reported. If at any time the transmission rates dip below 50 cases, the countdown clock starts over.

The county reported transmission rates of 49.68 cases per 100,000 residents for Nov. 8, meaning there would need to be another seven uninterrupted days of substantial transmission for the mask mandate to be reinstated.

https://twitter.com/MontCoExec/status/1457765889311379467

Council President Tom Hucker, D-District 5, said the amendment would 鈥渉elp reduce confusion about our indoor masking requirement and also provide us with a clearer picture of our health trends and the status of the virus鈥� effects on our county.鈥�

The council voted unanimously in approval of the amendment after hearing testimony from county residents.

Some residents voiced their support of making it more difficult to reinstate the indoor mask mandate, while others went further to say they believed the ordinance should be done away with altogether.

鈥淚 get where the mask mandate comes from. I fully support that, I鈥檝e said that before,鈥� Matthew Libber, owner of Maryland Soccerplex said. 鈥淚 think there is some reason to believe that we can move forward without masks later on once vaccines are fully available for everybody.鈥�

Paul Meyer, father to a 2 year old, said the best thing people can do to protect the younger unvaccinated population is to get themselves vaccinated. 鈥淎nd in a county with a 99.9% vaccination rate, we鈥檝e taken care of that,鈥� Meyer said.

Meyer said the county officials need to determine what level of risk is acceptable. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to keep going back and forth with mask mandates, we need to discuss what our goals are here. Are we trying to get to zero covid?鈥� Meyer said. 鈥淎lmost all experts agree that this is impossible.鈥�

Montgomery County resident and parent Bradley Jensen said he removed his children from Montgomery County Public Schools and has become a customer of businesses in un-masked neighboring counties so his family could 鈥渆njoy the freedoms鈥� that came along with no mandates.

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Rainfall on impervious surfaces does not soak into the ground. Parking lots, rooftops and driveways allow for the collection of this water, called runoff. Stormwater runoff flows either directly into streams or by way of storm drain pipes and stormwater management facilities, carrying contaminants with it, according to Montgomery Parks.

Runoff water poses more of a threat to residents than just soggy grass and flooding in the streets.

from damaged and burst drain pipes have been a in Montgomery County, according to water and wastewater utilities WSSC Water.

Seneca Creek in Germantown saw the same section of storm drain pipe damaged a year after the in 2020, dumping thousands of gallons of sewage and contaminated water into the environment.

WSSC Water tap water was still safe to drink in each instance.

Investigations by WSSC Water have not yet released new insights into the state of the 11,000 miles of storm drain pipes in Montgomery County.

Urban consequences

Most households in Montgomery County are within half a mile of one of the 1,500 local streams with the potential for stormwater damage, according to Montgomery Parks.

Montgomery Parks employees regularly survey waterways for the oxygen level, pollution contaminants and presence of aquatic life to determine the health of the stream. Each waterway is then assigned a rating for its condition.

Montgomery Parks maintains where residents can find out the rating for their local stream.

Bethesda Green functions to improve green living in urban areas. A report by the nonprofit stated that in a forested stream like Newaukum Creek, water flow is slower to rise. An urban waterway such as Mercer Creek has higher rates of erosion and flash flooding.

Ryan Zerbe, Watershed Outreach Planner for the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, focuses on improving water quality and stream health. Zerbe said 55% of stormwater in an urban area becomes runoff, equivalent to seven Olympic sized swimming pools, compared to the 25% in a forested area.

Tree canopies are highly important for stormwater, according to Zerbe. Roots keep the soil in place. Once impervious tree canopy coverage is lost, it is 鈥渧ery difficult to get reestablished,鈥� Zerbe said.

Runoff water also increases stream bank erosion, according to Zerbe. There exists a natural process of erosion, but 鈥渨e certainly accelerated that by the type of building and development that we do,鈥� Zerbe said.

Montgomery County streams in poor condition face erosion of up to 15 feet, according to Bethesda Green. Development has reduced Sligo Creek to just 26% of what it was 125 years ago.

Adam Ortiz, Director of Montgomery Parks Department of Environmental Protection, has overseen watershed regulation and stormwater management since 2012. Ortiz was by the Biden administration to serve as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 3.

Pollution on land is carried into the waterways by stormwater runoff, according to Ortiz.

鈥淭he health of the water is directly related to the health of the land. If there鈥檚 bad stuff on the land, when it rains, it will get into the water,鈥� Ortiz said.

Pollution like trash, oil spills and improper disposal of pet waste all threaten the water quality of local streams and rivers.

Fighting back

Montgomery Parks a new campaign called 鈥淐ritters in Crisis.鈥�

鈥淭his is basically Montgomery County鈥檚 version of endangered species here in our region,鈥� Ortiz said. 鈥淲hat we find is that there鈥檚 life all around us. And sometimes it鈥檚 not quite visible, but it鈥檚 certainly there.鈥�

Five aquatic creatures make up the list of at risk species in Montgomery County鈥檚 waterways. The acuminate crayfish, giant stone fly, marbled salamander, American eel and yellow lance mussel are all at great risk due to polluted runoff stormwater emptying into the streams.

Each creature is important to Maryland鈥檚 ecosystem and in danger of disappearing, according to Montgomery County senior water quality specialist Ken Mack.

For instance, the yellow lance mussel helps filter the Patuxent River basin. The mussels are endemic to Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, meaning they cannot live anywhere else. Mack said only about 10 of these federally protected mussels have been seen within the last decade. The mussels had not previously been seen in the Patuxent River in over 50 years, according to Mack.

鈥淭here are many ways the public can help protect the streams and wildlife, including picking up litter and pet waste and volunteering for park cleanups,鈥� said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks.

Montgomery Parks and Bethesda Green sponsor a number of incentive programs to help protect the local waterways. Residents are being encouraged to consider participating in free programs that award cash rebates, like and .

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It was also revealed that County Executive Marc Elrich (D) failed to submit a plan for such COVID-19 testing procedures after being ordered to do so over two months prior.

During a on state police reform legislation, Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker, D-District 5, asked whether the county was testing unvaccinated employees for COVID-19.

鈥淲e鈥檙e working with and , with the unions finalizing those protocols. That鈥檚 just a process we鈥檙e having to go through,鈥� said Darren Francke of Montgomery County Police Department.

鈥淲ow,鈥� Hucker said. 鈥淲hy does it take so long?鈥�

The council had a memorandum of agreement in early August to work with unions to regularly test unvaccinated front-facing county employees. The deadline for the County Executive to submit a plan to carry out that testing was Aug. 20.

鈥淚 mean, we passed this. The public believes it is happening,鈥� Hucker said. 鈥淚 was very surprised to hear it鈥檚 not happening.鈥�

According to the memorandum, union leadership was required to submit proof of members鈥� vaccinations to the county by Sept. 18.

Yet Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Earl Stoddard, who was speaking at the meeting on Elrich鈥檚 behalf, explained the unions are not the obstacle for implementing these procedures. Stoddard said the workers who initially ran the tests last year are back in their usual roles now that libraries, schools and recreation centers have reopened, leaving no personnel available to run the tests.

鈥淲e鈥檙e having to retrain and redevelop a process for getting those test kits out,鈥� Stoddard said. 鈥淲e hoped to have rapid tests in place, so that obviously we wouldn鈥檛 have the logistics burden of getting PCR tests collected, run to the lab, and results reported back that way.鈥�

Stoddard reported that COVID-19 rapid tests were unavailable to the county for in-house testing.

鈥淲e鈥檙e making tests available to the public, as is CVS and Giant, and any other individual retailer is, for free,鈥� Hucker said. 鈥淲hy not put all our firefighters and police officers in a fire truck and run them over to Dennis Avenue Health Center?鈥�

鈥淵ou certainly could do that,鈥� Stoddard said, 鈥淏ut obviously that would be a significant time reduction out of their service.鈥�

Elrich, who was not present at the meeting, is concerned about severe understaffing that may result in a reduction of services if first responders take time out of their shifts to get tested regularly, according to Stoddard.

Stoddard said the county already faced issues with overtime payment for testing on the clock, and resistance to getting employees to test on their own time.

Hucker said he thought the 鈥渞isk of having unvaccinated employees out there dealing with the public far offsets鈥� those issues.

Stoddard could not provide a specific explanation as to why no action was taken in the two and a half months since the council鈥檚 memorandum was issued, saying he too was 鈥渇rustrated.鈥�

Elrich also posed concern for a significant loss of first responders if the county were to pass legislation currently being considered to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations, according to Stoddard. The legislation would terminate county employees who do not comply with the mandate.

With , the percentage affected by a vaccination mandate would be small.

At-large Councilman Hans Riemer (Democrat), said healthcare workers in hospitals already proved labor shortage fears due to vaccine mandates were unwarranted, .

Councilman Craig Rice, D-District 2, pressed the issue. 鈥淲hat I would say to the County Executive and Lodge 35, help us to avoid having to bring the heavy hammer down by saying 鈥榤andatory vaccinations,鈥� and work with us in terms of a solution that makes sense,鈥� Rice said.

Stoddard said he would commit to the council to approve a plan for testing unvaccinated county employees by the end of this week.

鈥淚 agree that we need to have done a better job,鈥� Stoddard said.

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Project manager Charles Kines said in that the facilities are nearly 60 years old and in need of a major refurbishment.

鈥淲e feel like there might be a point, a decision making point in the future, where a major public investment might be needed to keep this as an equestrian facility,鈥� Kines said. 鈥淎nd when we reach that point, we feel like that鈥檚 an opportunity for us to rethink this 27 acre site.鈥�

Immediate reactions from community members watching the meeting via Zoom showed unwavering support of keeping the stables.

The short-term recommendations suggested improving the trails and continuing operations by the current tenant, Sancy Creecy, who runs the stables. Long-term solutions proposed investing public dollars to construct a different kind of community amenity altogether.

Drafted overhauls for the site by Kines included community gardens, additional recreational areas or the new site for Brookside Visitor and Nature Center.

The designated that Wheaton Regional Park land could be developed and repurposed to generate more revenue, as long as no more than one-third of park land is developed. The plan did not distinguish criteria between developed and undeveloped land.

鈥淔rankly, they need to stop turning the last bit of green space in Montgomery County into more townhomes,鈥� Montgomery County resident Gedalia Walls said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 something worth saving somehow. The stables are an anchor to the area.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of appalling,鈥� life-long Montgomery County resident Shannon Chester said. 鈥淗ow does a soccer field contribute to being green?鈥�

slogan 鈥淲here generations learn to ride鈥� rings true for the community.

Billie Cooper first began riding at Wheaton Park Stables in 1976. She operated as a volunteer trail guide up until 2019. Cooper鈥檚 children and grandchildren have all learned to ride at the stables. Cooper calls the stables her 鈥渟anity restorer.鈥�

The stables hold an equine therapy program for young adults and children with disabilities. Cooper said she has witnessed the impact the horses have had on participants firsthand.

Cooper told a story about a young boy whose parents had signed up for riding lessons. The boy used a wheelchair after losing ability in his legs from an automobile accident.

鈥淎t the end of the first session, he said, 鈥業鈥檓 glad I had my accident, because otherwise I would have never gotten to know horses.鈥� That鈥檚 how much it means to some people,鈥� Cooper said.

Wheaton Park Stables is a private business leasing public land. If the stables鈥� owner were to step away from the business, the open contract would allow the board to repurpose the land however they chose to.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think the county needs a huge investment,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really nothing but four walls. All we have to do is put up four walls.鈥�

Sandy Creecy, the current owner of the stables, has no plans of stepping away from the business, but thinks the community should still voice their support to prevent future action. 鈥淧eople might think that it鈥檚 down the road and it鈥檚 never going to happen, but I think we have to take this seriously,鈥� Creecy said.

鈥淭he underlying sentiment of this is not that people don鈥檛 want soccer fields here or a new nature center here,鈥� Creecy said. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 want the stables to go anywhere. We want to be able to continue to provide what we have provided for generations in the past for future generations.鈥�

The Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan is now in a period of public review. The board must hold a public hearing before officially adopting the plan. The hearing has not yet been scheduled.

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That is, until the cats attacked.

鈥淭here was this one particular cat, this gray and black striped tabby that was more aggressive,鈥� Benji鈥檚 owner Kim Parker said. 鈥淚 kicked him and he didn鈥檛 pay me attention. He still kept coming.鈥澛�

Parker said she scooped up Benji and ran off, with the cats chasing behind.聽 鈥淚t was really scary,鈥� Parker said.

The cat that chased Benji and Parker that day was one of a growing colony that seems to be ruling the 700 block of Sheridan Street. Interviews with several neighbors reveal a host of nuisances: cats using their lawns as litter boxes, cats patrolling the sidewalks and cats attacking multiple dogs, and people too. Neighbors also say they have a feeling as to why the cats are sticking around 鈥� one person among them continues to feed them.

Don鈥檛 wear the wrong colors

The gang of cats has proven to be a greater threat in recent months.

Elizabeth Lacchab and her dachshund Flynn were attacked by three cats on their way to the dog park in late August. 鈥淗e was screaming because he was so scared,鈥� Lacchab said. 鈥淲e wore the wrong colors onto their sidewalk.鈥� The cats ran at Flynn, but Lacchab put herself in between them.

鈥淚 have really ugly scars on my leg now,鈥� Lacchab said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still sore. They got me really good.鈥�

Lacchab said her dog has developed a fear of cats since the incident. 鈥淚f Flynn sees a cat in his peripheral vision 鈥� he鈥檚 a baby 鈥� I have to pick him up because he freezes and won鈥檛 move.鈥�

Lacchab has made a full recovery, now sporting battle scars from Sheridan Street. 鈥淚 know this is serious, but I can鈥檛 help but keep laughing at the absurdity of this whole thing,鈥� Lacchab said. 鈥淒elinquent cats on the loose in D.C.鈥�

County policies and an advocat鈥檚 advice

Christina Simms visits the dog park with her daughter and their two dogs, MooMoo and Oreo. Simms said it is common for residents of the area to let their pets, particularly cats, roam freely outdoors.

The suggests feral cats are often euthanized. The code also prohibits the trap, neuter and release method (TNR) for anyone other than the property owner, posing a roadblock to rescue organizations.

, where the cats on Sheridan Street often wander into, permits licensed and tagged cats to wander outdoors. But the statute does not permit cats to stray onto or defecate on private property without permission.

Animal caretakers are responsible for their outdoor cats regardless if they have a license for ownership. Montgomery County defines an owner as anyone that feeds or provides shelter for an animal, even temporarily.

is a non-profit organization that secures low-cost veterinary services for caretakers of feral and free roaming cats in Maryland. The organization seeks to educate people about community cats, alter and vaccinate stray cats, and return them to their colonies. Rehoming is the last resort if the cat colony is in an unsafe location.

Barbara Wratten of Tip Me Frederick said when the organization is alerted of an unaltered cat colony, the priority is to find the caretaker. 鈥淲e let them know for sure that we鈥檙e not trying to hurt the cats or take them away,鈥� Wratten said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just trying to get them spayed or neutered and vaccinated.鈥�

The cats of Sheridan Street have never been to a veterinarian, according to neighbors. 鈥淲ith cats attacking people, it鈥檚 extremely important that we get them vaccinated,鈥� Wratten said.

Tip Me Frederick advises owners to keep pets indoors. 鈥淭hey live a lot longer indoor lives,鈥� Wratten said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 going to make the people happy as well as keep the cats happy.鈥�

One to rule them all

The cats鈥� caretaker on the 700 block of Sheridan Street is Tamika Rudder.

Rudder said she feeds the stray cats of Sheridan Street every day. She also provides toys and bedding on her front porch.

Rudder said the cats are more than average strays. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e generational cats,鈥� Rudder said. 鈥淚 knew their grandparents and their grandparents鈥� grandparents.鈥�

The cats are not spayed or neutered. 鈥淚nky, the little black one, is on her second pregnancy,鈥� Rudder said. Neighbors become frustrated when the cats have more litters, according to Rudder.

Inky鈥檚 mother Nebby continuously drops off her kittens at Rudder鈥檚 home when they reach three months of age. 鈥淭hey know it鈥檚 a safe place,鈥� Rudder said.

Rudder said she previously tried to trap some of the cats but was unaware of nearby organizations that would assist her. 鈥淚 would be interested in that,鈥� Rudder said.

Wratten said it is not typical behavior of feral cats to attack on sight. 鈥淭hey have probably been injured by a dog,鈥� Wratten said. 鈥淎 dog probably got over there and attacked some cats. So now they鈥檙e sensitive to any dog.鈥�

Rudder said there used to be renters in the house across the street that allowed their pitbull to roam off-leash outside. 鈥淗e was up in everybody鈥檚 yards,鈥� Rudder said. 鈥淗e would stare you down.鈥�

The presence of the dog was a violation of the rental agreement according to Rudder. She believes the dog is no longer living there.

Area rescue organizations , , and have been alerted about the situation through various complaints. Volunteers from Alley Cat Allies plan on visiting the cats to offer assistance.

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