Dallas City Council to consider softened animal control ordinance

June 14, 2008

Story: Dallas City Council to consider softened animal control ordinance

01:24 AM CDT on Saturday, June 14, 2008

By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News dlevinthal

After months of contentious debate, the Dallas City Council will consider a notably softened animal control ordinance that provides numerous exceptions to a previously proposed mandatory spay-neuter provision, according to a 34-page briefing document distributed Friday night to City Council members.

Dogs and cats younger than 6 months old, a service animal or the property of a licensed breeder would be exempt from spaying or neutering regulations.

A veterinarian may also certify that an animal shouldn't be spayed or neutered for health reasons, the briefing document states.

The updated ordinance proposal also heeds concerns of animal breeders and owner-rights advocates, who have complained about City Hall plans to charge a $500-per-animal breeding permit. The city now plans to charge $70 per animal.

City officials are also proposing allowing any Dallasite to obtain a breeding permit -- thereby exempting them from the spay-neuter requirements -- so long as they complete a "course on responsible pet ownership offered or approved by the city."

"What you see now is a result of considering all the feedback we've gotten," said Forest Turner, interim director of Dallas' Code Compliance Department, noting that dozens of interested parties have contacted city officials in recent months.

Among other elements contained in the proposed animal ordinance:

*A single house would be limited to six cats and/or dogs. People owning more than a half-acre of land would be allowed eight -- something not contained in earlier versions of the proposal. People who today own a greater number of animals could apply to the city for grandfathering, allowing them to retain their animals without penalty.

*The city could seize, then impound a dog suspected of causing bodily injury to a person until after a hearing to determine the dog's fate. Now, such dogs are quarantined for 10 days, then returned to their owners in many cases.

*Tethering unsupervised dogs to trees or poles is prohibited except "for a period no longer than necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task."

*Owners must provide at least 150 square feet of space and a "building or properly designed dog house" for a dog confined outdoors.

The full City Council will formally review the animal control proposals Wednesday.

A formal vote on the proposed ordinance is scheduled for June 25.