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Proposed breeder permits and higher ‘dangerous dog’ insurance fail on tie vote
Summary
Council considered a second-reading ordinance to require permits for dog/cat breeders and raise the required liability policy for dogs judged dangerous from $250,000 to $1,000,000; staff recommended the changes but the ordinance failed on a tie vote during Jan. 28 meeting.
The City of Lubbock considered a second-reading ordinance on Jan. 28 that would have required breeders of dogs and cats to obtain permits and increased the liability-insurance requirement for dogs judged dangerous from $250,000 to $1,000,000. After a brief staff briefing and council questions, the measure failed on a tie vote.
City Manager (Mister Atkinson) and Director of Animal Services Mister Green outlined the two changes on the second read: a breeder permit requirement and raising the minimum liability policy for a dog designated as dangerous. Mister Green told council members he supported the changes and said the higher insurance amount would be “another tool” for the animal-services department; he added that he did not expect the measure to completely eliminate backyard breeding but described it as a helpful enforcement tool.
Mayor Pro Tem asked whether staff were comfortable with the new insurance amount and with using a permit to address backyard breeders; Mister Green replied that staff were comfortable and that the permit was a useful enforcement tool. Council then took a vote; the motion resulted in a tie and the ordinance did not pass.
The council did not record a detailed roll-call tally in the public transcript of the meeting; the chair announced that the motion was a tie and therefore did not carry. No amendment or referral to further study was recorded on the transcript.
