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Board seeks clearer 'running at large' rules; removes odd 'except pigeons' language
Summary
Staff recommended removing an apparent anomaly that excluded pigeons from running‑at‑large rules and adding language clarifying that an animal in an unfenced yard can be impounded; the edits aim to reduce disputes after bite incidents and strengthen impound authority.
Staff told the board that an older draft inexplicably excluded pigeons from the running‑at‑large prohibition and proposed removing that phrase. "So I've always thought that this particular ordinance was very silly to say except pigeons in it, so I think we need to just get rid of that," the Staff member said, arguing the exclusion made little sense in practice.
The Staff member also recommended adding wording that an animal ‘‘in their own fenced yard’’ is still subject to the running‑at‑large rule if the yard is not securely fenced and the animal can access the public right-of-way; staff cited several past bite incidents as the rationale and proposed clearer impoundment authority to reduce disputes.
