Mathews County Animal Control Officer Jean Roberts reported to the board of supervisors at its Aug. 27 meeting that she expects to receive a grant to help fund a trap, neuter and release program for feral cats in the county.

Alley Cats, a national organization, helps with the cost of spaying or neutering the cats, vaccinating them and providing ongoing maintenance, said Roberts. She said the funds will be a boost for the network of volunteers she has enlisted over the past few years to provide those services in Mathews.

Roberts said she started a similar program while she was in the U.S. Navy, and locally began recruiting residents to help out when she moved to Gwynn’s Island eight years ago and spotted a colony of feral cats near her property.

She said that a spay/neuter program for feral cats does away with the need for euthanizing the animals, since the procedure keeps them from breeding and a colony will naturally die off over time.

As animal control officer, Rober...