The Public Health and Safety Committee of the Topeka City Council reviewed proposed amendments to the cruelty-to-animals and dangerous-dog ordinances on Wednesday, advancing the measures for further review and possible council consideration.

The committee heard a legal overview and operational rationale for two draft ordinances from Amanda Stanley, Topeka city attorney, and animal-control staff. The changes described include clarifying required access to fresh water for animals, adding or adjusting bonding requirements tied to cruelty charges, and permitting release of animals held on dangerous-dog or cruelty holds if owners fail to appear in court after initial notice.

The city attorney identified the cruelty ordinance as TMC 6.15 0.17 and said one amendment would change a requirement that water be provided “on a regular basis” to “at all times,” a change Stanley said was intended to give prosecutors a clearer standard for proving neglect in court. "From the prosecution's point of view ... 'regular basis' — what does that mean? … Adequate water at all times would solve that and allow the discretion for ACO to decide, is this a good owner or a bad owner?" Stanley said.

Animal-control staff described long shelter holds and expense as a driver for the amendments. An officer identified cases in which dogs had been held for many months while owners missed court dates. "That dog has not been outside … We've spent over $9,000 just on that case," the officer said, and staff said the city has spent roughly $60,000 on related boarding and care costs in both 2023 and 2025 (January–May), and closer to $70,000 in 2024.

Staff and the city attorney also described a change to allow release of animals to Helping Hands (the local animal-welfare partner) when owners fail to appear after an initial court appearance or fail to renew required performance bonds. Amanda Stanley said the amendment responds to a legal need to have an express municipal ordinance allowing the city to treat the animal as seized property when an owner has effectively abandoned the case: "This would allow us to do what you're talking about and release the dog to Helping Hands with legal justification, so they can get adopted out by a family that will love them." Committee members and staff reported that Helping Hands had provided a supportive memo.

Committee members asked about post-release outcomes and whether animals would be euthanized; staff said Helping Hands assesses adoptability after release and that most cruelty-case animals are adoptable. Staff also said the dangerous-dog amendment would allow the court greater flexibility to require bonds that cover city boarding costs and to release animals when owners do not comply with court schedules.

Committee chair Karen Hiller and Councilman Brett Kelt indicated the committee’s support for advancing the draft changes to council with data and stakeholder input included; the chair said the committee had contacted animal-advocacy stakeholders for feedback and reported only support to date.

The committee requested that cover materials to council include the enforcement data and cost figures staff presented to illustrate the projected savings and animal-welfare benefits of the proposed changes. No final vote on the ordinances was taken at the committee meeting; staff said the committee’s consensus would help prepare the measures for formal council consideration.