Sterling leash law may be in the offing

City council demands updates on animal control ordinance within a month

Dog owners in Sterling may be facing a raft of new regulations in the wake of a series of dog attacks last year.

During Tuesday’s regular Sterling City Council meeting, council members pressed hard to have the city’s animal control ordinances overhauled, and the sooner the better.

Councilman Albert Delgado brought the issue up during council members’ miscellaneous business time Tuesday, and specifically asked for a leash law. City ordinance now requires only that a dog be under its owner’s control when outside of its yard but several council members have said they want dogs to be physically restrained.

City Attorney Matthew Richardson said there were several changes and updates that had been requested and, rather than pass ordinances piecemeal, he would rather make all of the changes at once and have the council adopt a new animal control ordinance. He said the process could take a couple of months.

That wasn’t soon enough for Delgado, who pointed out the issue has been before the council since October of last year, and he wanted some action as soon as possible. Mayor Matt Foos asked if one month would be satisfactory.

“I can compromise,” Delgado said.

Richardson said he could have a draft for the council to look at in two weeks, which would allow time for the content of the proposed ordinance to be made public. Citizens then would be able to comment at a following meeting before the final ordinance is adopted.

Afterward, both Delgado and Foos said they would like to see licensing of dogs required.

“Iliff does it, Fleming does it, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be doing it,” Delgado said.

In other business Tuesday, only one item appeared on the agenda. The council approved a special event permit for Sterling Elks Lodge. Earlier, on the consent agenda, the council approved a change of manager application for Everyday Stores, LLC, 303 N. Third St.