Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cheney council removes Rottweiler ban but imposes muzzle, leash and spay/neuter rules
Summary
On Nov. 12 the Cheney City Council adopted Ordinance 975 to lift the city'wide Rottweiler ban while limiting households to one Rottweiler, requiring spay/neuter, and mandating a 4-foot leash and muzzle when the dog is outdoors; council removed an insurance requirement and approved the ordinance by roll call.
The Cheney City Council on Nov. 12 adopted Ordinance 975, ending the city's prior ban on Rottweilers while adding several restrictions: one Rottweiler per household, required spay/neuter, and a requirement that the dog be muzzled and on a four-foot leash whenever outdoors.
Attorney Austin Parker explained the draft ordinance mirrors existing provisions that applied to previously regulated breeds and said the leash and muzzle rules are intended to address incidents that occur when animals are unsupervised. City Administrator Danielle Young told the council the ordinance reflects the council'member direction from the prior month to allow one animal per household and require spaying/neutering and supervised outdoor time.
Residents Randy and Malea Sanders objected to the requirement that a Rottweiler be muzzled and leashed while outdoors even inside a six-foot privacy fence, arguing that a four-foot leash would not allow adequate exercise. The Sanderses also said their insurance company no longer offers the type of coverage the ordinance had originally required; the council voted to remove the insurance requirement.
Councilmember Greg Williams asked how enforcement would work; Attorney Parker said violations would be handled through ticketing and that the ordinance prohibits tethering an animal to an inanimate object. Parker also suggested the council consider treating supervised, enclosed yards differently and proposed reviewing results after a six-month trial period.
Motion and vote: Councilmember Jeff Albers moved to adopt Ordinance 975 as amended and authorize Mayor Philip Mize to sign; Councilmember Williams seconded. Clerk Angie Gassmann recorded a roll-call vote with Albers, Cramer, Gile, Graf and Williams voting yes. The motion passed.
What the ordinance requires and what remains to be seen: The adopted ordinance allows one Rottweiler per household and requires the animal to be spayed or neutered. It specifies a four-foot leash and muzzle when the animal is outdoors and bars tethering to inanimate objects; the council removed the prior insurance requirement and agreed that supervised exercise in an enclosed yard can be permitted. The ordinance includes a provision that puppies must be removed from the city within six months if born to a registered animal.
Next steps: Mayor Mize signed the ordinance following adoption; staff and the attorney recommended monitoring compliance and enforcement incidents during the six-month period before changing rules further.
