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Board hears early proposals to tighten animal-welfare ordinances, change fines and shorten stray hold
Summary
Staff outlined early-stage ordinance ideas including shortening stray hold from seven to three days, adding a mistreatment/cruelty ordinance, revising tethering rules, regulating transport in vehicles, removing a permit to own chickens and banning retail sale of dogs and cats; formal draft language will be developed with the city attorney.
Officer Wolf presented a list of proposed ordinance changes the city is researching with the city attorney. Proposals are at an early stage and do not yet have formal language; topics under consideration include removing the fine differential for altered versus unaltered animals, changing the stray hold from seven days to three days, adding a clear mistreatment/cruelty ordinance (covering housing, animals left in cars and animals without medical care), revising the tethering ordinance to improve safety, adding transport-in-vehicles requirements, removing the permit requirement for keeping chickens (while maintaining rules such as a five-chicken limit and no roosters) and prohibiting retail sale of dogs and cats at flea markets and pet stores.
Officer Wolf said staff will work with the city attorney to produce draft verbiage and bring it back to the board when ready. Members raised questions about state law regarding declawing and evolving veterinary guidance on recommended ages for spay/neuter; Chair Leonard urged consideration of medical best practices when drafting requirements.
