Council Approves Second Reading On Ordinance

PRAIRIE GROVE — The City Council on Monday heard the second reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s Animal Control Ordinance, requiring dog and cat owners to pay an annual fee to license their pets and encouraging pet owners to neuter or spay their animals.

The council placed the ordinance on first reading at its Nov. 18 meeting. The council will hear the third and final reading of the ordinance at its January meeting. The new ordinance is called the Animal Control Ordinance of 2013. It takes effect in 30 days.

Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works, said the changes were needed for two main reasons: the fee structure for animal control had not been changed in 25 years and the city wanted to provide a financial incentive for residents to neuter or spay and microchip their animals.

Oelrich said the council also wanted to clarify parts of the old ordinance.

The proposed l aw requires all dogs and cats, 6 months of age or older, to be licensed with the city. City animals are required to display a license tag or to be microchipped and registered. The annual license will cost $ 10 per year for neutered or spayed animals and $25 per year for unneutered or unspayed animals. Animals with a registered microchip will receive a $5 discount.

Other provisions of the Animal Control Ordinance include that dogs and cats within the city limits must have a current rabies vaccination and that it is unlawful for any person to allow any dog or an unspayed or unneutered cat to run at large within the city limits. Any dog or cat found running at large can be taken into custody by the city’s animal control officer and the officer will attempt to identify the owner of the animal.

An animal in custody will be held for a minimum of five days for redemption. An owner can redeem a pet for a set fee. For the first redemption, the fee is $20 for a neutered animal or $ 40 for an unneutered animal. The fee increases for subsequent redemptions within a 12-month period.

An owner will receive a $10 discount on redemption fees for a microchipped animal registered with the city.

An owner can relinquish ownership of an animal to the city by paying a $ 40 relinquishment fee.

Animals will be available for adoption through the city’s animal shelter for a $40 adoption fee.

The original amendment recommended a $75 adoption fee but Lesa Bements, president of Friends of the Prairie Grove Pound, asked the council to collect an adoption fee under the $65 fee charged by the city of Fayetteville and Washington County.

“We want to be able to adopt out the animals,” Bements told the City Council. “If the fee is $75, they will go to the county or Fayetteville.”

All fees required by the ordinance are not in lieu of any fines, fees or costs that may be imposed by district court for violation of the city’s animal control laws.

The ordinance requires kennel license for more than five dogs or cats.