Thursday, July 22, 2010
 
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Logan County Board passes new dog and cat nuisance ordinance

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(Originally posted Wednesday afternoon)

[July 22, 2010]  The Logan County Board passed a new ordinance 11-0 that addresses problems created by dogs and cats.

InsuranceCommittee chairman Kevin Bateman presented the ordinance entitled "Impoundment of dogs and cats creating nuisance." He said that the most common calls to animal control are for barking dogs; as such the ordinance has become more commonly known as the barking dog ordinance. But the ordinance also includes cats and other canine problem behaviors such as dogs chasing cars.

A penalty of $25 or no more than $500 would be assessed by the animal control warden. The amount would be determined by what the person handling the call has to deal with, the hour of the call -- after hours requires overtime pay -- and the history of complaints, Bateman explained.

The statute is modeled off the ordinance just passed by the city of Lincoln and it states:

A) No person owning, possessing or harboring any dog or cat within the county of Logan shall permit his/her animal to become a nuisance. A dog or cat shall be considered a nuisance if said animal:

a. Substantially damages property other than the owner's.

b. Causes unsanitary, dangerous or unreasonably offensive conditions.

c. Causes a disturbance by excessive barking, caterwauling or other noisemaking.

d. Chases vehicles or molests, attacks or interferes with persons or domestic animals while off the premises of the owner.

B) The Animal Control Administrator or his/her delegate upon reasonable ground shall impound any dog or cat creating a nuisance off the real property of the owner and not restrained by a competent person.

C) Any owner of any dog or cat which creates a nuisance is in violation of this section and shall upon conviction thereof pay a penalty of twenty-five ($25) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).

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Several changes have been made at the animal control facility recently, improving conditions for dogs and those visiting them. New kennels were installed, and there is a new outdoor fenced area that is working out well for families wanting to take a dog out and see how it interacts.

Volunteers to interact with animals are needed and welcome, Bateman said.

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]

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