 Committee 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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