DALLAS, TX Dallas Votes to Get Tough on Cats and Dogs

[cheekymunkee]

Dallas Votes to Get Tough on Cats and Dogs



DALLAS, TX (2008-06-25)



Dozens of people lined up to speak for and against the proposed animal control ordinance: the most controversial provision -mandatory spay neuter of dogs and cats, with a few exceptions, and a 70 dollar required breeder's permit. Dallas dog owner Sherry Talton warned against mandatory spay-neuter won't work.

Talton: If you're concerned about loose dogs, this ordinance is not going to solve it unless we put out money where our mouth is and enforce the laws that we have and give the Animal Control the budget that they need to solve this problem.

Kathleen Moore called for a YES vote.

Moore: By enforcing a mandatory spay neuter law we are teaching compassion. We are teaching respect, responsibility and empathy.

The new rules for dogs, cats and owners passed on a 10-3 vote - with council members demanding a detailed plan of HOW Animal Control plans to enforce the new rules.



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Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys
Education...Awareness...Advocacy

[cheekymunkee]

City passes animal control ordinance

02:48 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 25, 2008



The Dallas City Council has passed an ordinance by 10-3 which will introduce stricter rules for pet owners, including:



• tougher spay/neuter regulations

• limitations on the number of pets in one home

• a ban on tethering dogs to trees or posts except in limited cases



The majority of council members hailed the changes to the city’s animal ordinance as an important step toward reducing the tens of thousands of stray animals roaming city streets and improving quality of life for pets.



"It's the first step in trying to solve a complex problem that has been going on for a long time," Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia said. "We all agree it's time to do something."



Voting for the ordinance were: Garcia, Mayor Tom Leppert, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and council members Linda Koop, Steve Salazar, Mitchell Rasansky, Tennell Atkins, Vonciel Jones Hill, Dave Neumann and Jerry Allen.



Voting against the ordinance were: Council members Sheffie Kadane, Ron Natinsky and Angela Hunt.



“We should have deferred this; we should have put this off until we could have gotten both sides together,” said Kadane, who represents District 9.



Council members Pauline Medrano and Carolyn Davis were absent when the vote was taken.



Assistant City Secretary Rosa Rios says that Ms. Davis is absent on city business as she's undergoing mandatory training to serve on the city Employees' Retirement Fund Board of Trustees.



Past proposals had some pet owners and breeders suggesting city leaders were over-stepping their bounds.



The ordinance limits each house to six dogs or cats, requires spay or neuter for all animals, a $70 dog fee permit for breeders and prevents tethering for dogs.



In addition, owners will have to have a 150 square foot space to keep any dog in Dallas.



The mayor allowed everyone who showed up to speak - that's well over 100 people.



Dallas Morning News staff writer Rudolph Bush contributed to this report.



E-mail dschechter@...



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Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys
Education...Awareness...Advocacy