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Council poised to adopt local rules to curb roadside pet sales; staff says measure mirrors state law
Summary
Council member Paul Stovall introduced an ordinance to restrict transient pet sales in rights-of-way, parks and city facilities; staff clarified it does not apply to licensed shelters and will be codified to give local enforcement tools.
Council member Paul Stovall introduced a proposal to address transient pet sales — informal, roadside transactions of dogs, cats and rabbits — and to provide city code enforcement and police with authority to curtail the activity in right of ways, parks and city facilities.
Stovall said the city had waited while a state law was pending but that the state statute has been passed and the local ordinance is intended to codify and enable municipal enforcement. A staff member clarified that the proposed local rule “does not apply to licensed animal shelters” and excludes certain veterinarian transfers and other categories described in the draft. “It’s applying to our right of ways and in parks and in all the facilities,” staff said.
Council discussed the draft briefly, noting similar ordinances passed in nearby jurisdictions and the desire to give local enforcement mechanisms without duplicating shelter or veterinary exceptions. Council agreed to move the item to first reading so that a full ordinance can be considered and publicly noticed.
Next steps: the ordinance will appear at first reading for formal consideration and potential amendment.
