Members of the Voices for Animals of Western Pennsylvania and at least four other animal rights groups are trying to persuade the Borough of West Elizabeth to adopt a humane, effective method for dealing with what some residents say is a bumper crop of stray and feral cats this spring.

That method, whatever it is, shouldn't involve the town's contracted animal control officer Ken Ferree, according to more than a dozen activists attending a borough council meeting Monday.

The board is considering having Mr. Ferree, who owns Ferree Kennels in McKeesport, trap and remove nuisance cats at a cost of $10 per animal with the hope such efforts will alleviate the cat problem.

Animal rights activists are opposed to that plan because they say most of the animals will be killed.

Most people at the meeting favor a plan that involves spaying and neutering captured feral cats and returning them to the wild.

Lindsay Zurosky, of Voices for Animals, fears that Mr. Ferree will destroy the cats he captures without properly attempting to notify the animals' owners. She and other animal activists also object to his practice of asphyxiating animals with carbon monoxide exhaust from a connected gas engine, a method they say is inhumane.

Mr. Ferree has defended his use of asphyxiation by carbon monoxide on the ground that it is legal in Pennsylvania. Mr. Ferree was animal control officer for McKeesport until last year when that city opted not to renew his contract after receiving similar complaints of animal cruelty,

He said animal rights activists, who protested with signs in front of his kennel on Fifth Avenue in McKeesport on Sunday and Monday, are harassing him for personal reasons. He noted they also are calling him derisive names, many of which were uttered publicly at the meeting.

He said protesters are focusing their energy in the wrong place.

"Don't kill the messenger," he said. "I'm not the one who caused the problem. It's irresponsible pet owners."

Many of the animal advocates indicated they want to help West Elizabeth address its cat problems.

Rise Chontos, who operates a sanctuary for unwanted and homeless cats in Elizabeth Township, offered to take stray cats from the borough free of charge.

Michelle Dunn from Fund for Feral Cats said her organization would try to help the borough find resources for spaying and neutering animals.

Borough council President Louise Biddle said the council wants to find a solution that is fair for cats but also protects the interests of borough residents.

"We have a lot of soul searching to do," Ms. Biddle said.

The meeting ended abruptly after police detected an odor of something burning in the ceiling and evacuated the hall. West Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department investigated the structure and determined the odor was coming from an overheated light ballast. The meeting will be reconvened at an undetermined date.