Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge tougher enforcement and higher penalties for animal abandonment in Enid
Summary
Two residents urged the City Commission to revise Title 5 Chapter 7 to increase penalties for animal abandonment and strengthen enforcement, citing an imbalance between low fines for dumping and higher penalties for other violations amid strained shelter enforcement capacity.
Two residents used the public-comment period to press the City Commission for stronger animal-control penalties and enforcement.
Terry Clark told commissioners that current fines and punishments for animal-ordinance violations are “very weak” and likened enforcement to a “slap on the wrist,” arguing stronger penalties and enforcement are needed to change behavior.
Caroline Kim said the city’s ordinance (Title 5, Chapter 7) currently allows a $100 fine for dumping a dog while a separate violation (owning a rooster in a nonagricultural zone) can carry a $500 penalty applied per day. Kim said abandonment causes animals to starve or be struck by vehicles and that the disparity in fines sends the wrong message about community priorities. She noted enforcement capacity at the animal-welfare shelter is strained by low staffing and said enforcement cannot improve without personnel.
Both speakers asked the commission to begin revising the code and to consider enforcement capacity when designing penalties. The commission did not take immediate action during the meeting; the agenda then moved to adjournment.
