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Council to consider tougher animal ordinance after regional shelter strain; microchip, dangerous-dog and redemption changes proposed
Summary
Police and animal-control staff proposed ordinance changes after the regional PUPS facility reported heavy use by Brooklyn Park animals; staff cited PUPS statistics, proposed microchipping, limits per premise and clarified dangerous-dog rules and redemption timelines.
Police Chief Mark Bruley and Inspector Weinbeck told the Council the regional PUPS animal facility — shared with several suburban cities — is over capacity and that Brooklyn Park accounts for the majority of animals taken there.
Inspector Weinbeck said approximately 68% of animals brought to PUPS came from Brooklyn Park and described common causes: transient residents, relinquished pets and animals left in apartments. PUPS attempts to place animals with rescue partners and generally seeks to avoid euthanasia; the inspector said PUPS charges $50 for microchipping at the facility but also runs free or low-cost microchipping events with local rescue groups.
Staff recommended ordinance updates addressing dangerous-dog definitions and evaluations, owner redemption timelines (the five-day ownership-contact window used to start the rescue/rehoming process), limits on the number of animals per premise, and clearer vaccination and identification requirements. Council members asked about associated costs (microchipping, obedience training), insurance surety for dangerous animals and how to structure relocation or owner-cost accommodations.
Chief Bruley said the city hopes the ordinance changes, paired with education and microchipping events, will reduce shelter strain without immediately requiring a multi-million-dollar expansion of the regional facility; planners have estimated an addition could cost about $1 million to $1.2 million.
Next steps: staff will place ordinance language on the Council agenda for two readings and return with the required amendments and proposed ordinance text.
