Tooele police propose animal‑control code changes: notify shelter for strays, reclassify ferrets and remove cats from 'at‑large' enforcement

Tooele City Police Chief Adrian Day presented proposed changes to the city’s animal‑control code May 7 that would alter how stray animals are handled and refine definitions for certain species.

Chief Day said Tooele City Code section 6‑4‑1 currently makes it unlawful to harbor stray animals and requires that if a person takes in a lost cat or dog they must notify the shelter within 24 hours and the animal “shall” be impounded. Day proposed changing that language so that individuals who take in a stray must notify the shelter but the city “may” impound a found animal rather than automatically doing so; Day emphasized impoundment would still be available if the animal is aggressive or other public‑safety concerns are present.

Day also proposed definitional changes: removing ferrets from the “wild or exotic” animal definition and listing them among domesticated animals (Day said most ferrets encountered are pets), and removing cats from the “animal at large” definition because the city does not currently enforce at‑large provisions against cats. He suggested amending the “animal under restraint” definition to focus on dogs and farm animals rather than cats. Day noted the code currently allows nuisance enforcement for animals causing damage, and he discussed whether larger farm animals should be specifically covered by at‑large language because livestock can cause greater property damage or vehicle collisions.

Council members signaled support for the proposed changes and asked about public outreach; Chief Day said the city typically enforces on first‑time incidents with education and that judges are generally lenient on first offenders. He said the proposed changes would be brought forward as a future business item for formal consideration.