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Animal-control ordinance revisions moved to full commission after committee review
Summary
Committee reviewed proposed updates to Augusta’s animal-control ordinance — including shorter stray-hold periods, litter exceptions, nuisance cat options, new dangerous-dog procedures, mandatory microchipping and a spay/neuter requirement on second impound — and moved the proposal to the full commission without recommendation.
Augusta’s public-safety committee reviewed proposed revisions to the city’s animal-control ordinance and moved the package to the full commission for additional review without committee recommendation.
Animal Services Director (presenting) said most changes were editorial and reorganizational to make the ordinance easier to read, but the draft also included substantive rule changes. Key substantive proposals include shortening the stray-hold period (now to include Saturdays to reduce average shelter stays), removing a mandatory stray-hold period for litters of puppies and kittens so they can be transferred more quickly to rescues, and creating an option to treat community cats as nuisances while preserving trap‑neuter‑return (TNR) for participants.
The draft also adds a “potentially dangerous” designation that allows Animal Services to investigate and designate dogs based on aggressive behavior before a bite occurs; it adds authority for the director to petition superior court to prohibit a grossly irresponsible owner from possessing animals; requires dogs to be restrained even on the owner’s property (eliminating an unrestrained-on-own-property exception); and requires microchipping for reclaimed animals. The draft would require spay/neuter on a second impound for unaltered animals.
Director recommended the animal-control advisory board reconvene, clear up bylaws outside the ordinance, and require advisory‑board members to contribute volunteer hours at the shelter so they better understand day-to-day operations.
Committee members asked legal staff about hearing procedures and evidence standards. The committee voted to forward the revised ordinance to the full commission for discussion; no committee-level recommendation was made on final approval.
