City plans to restrict number of pets

Cape Girardeau City Council members say they're ready to limit the number of household pets over the objections of local Humane Society officials who argue the new rules aren't necessary.

Cape Girardeau pet owners won't be able to own more than four dogs and four cats without a special-use permit under the ordinance scheduled for first reading today. The council meeting starts at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Mayor Jay Knudtson said the measure would make it easier for the city's animal control and police officers to address nuisance complaints about dogs and cats.

Last year, some residents urged the city council to crack down on irresponsible dog owners whose aggressive dogs threaten people and other dogs.

Some people complained that pit bull attacks and dogs running loose were problems particularly on the city's south side.

The council last September said it would look to strengthen the city's animal control laws but wouldn't ban pit bulls or any other breed.

The council initially approved new restrictions before deciding to hold up final approval in February to allow time for an ad hoc city committee to meet with Humane Society officials in an effort to resolve differences.

The issue remained shelved for the next several months.

Knudtson and Strong said city officials and staff were focused on more important issues at the time, including budget woes and passage of the fire sales tax to fund public safety needs.

Grandfather clause

"It is not like we are out there digging up some goofy new ordinance," Knudtson said Friday. "I believe that four dogs is more than enough dogs for somebody within the city limits to have."

City residents can have more animals, provided that they apply and receive a special-use permit from the city council.

Before that could happen, the council would have to hold a public hearing on the matter, which would give neighbors an opportunity to voice their views, said police chief Steve Strong.

Current city residents won't have to comply with the eight-animal limit under a grandfather clause, provided that they have obtained city licenses for their animals before enactment of the ordinance, Strong said.

If approved by the council today, the measure would be up for final action on Aug. 2. The ordinance would take effect on Aug. 12.

The proposed regulation would be a major change. Pet owners in the city currently can have as many dogs and cats as they want, said city attorney Eric Cunningham. They just can't have more than four that aren't spayed or neutered.

At the urging of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, the city staff amended the new proposal to include the current four-animal limit on the number of unaltered animals per household, Cunningham said.

Strong said it often is difficult for his animal control and police officers to get close to dogs and cats to determine if they have been spayed or neutered.

Under the new regulation, officers will be able to simply count the number of animals to determine if there is a violation.

The limitation wouldn't apply to animals younger than 6 months. That provision assures that pet owners and those providing foster care won't be in violation of the limit on the number of pets because of a litter of kittens or puppies, city officials said.

The 21-page document before the council doesn't spell out a specific fine in municipal court for violations of the regulations.

Foster pet owners

But Charles Stucker, director of the local Humane Society and manager of the Cape Girardeau animal shelter, said the city doesn't need to change its animal-control regulations.

"I think the current system works fine, provided it is enforced properly," said Stucker, who was an animal control officer for the city of Cape Girardeau for 15 years. "There isn't really a problem that needs to be addressed."

Stucker said there's no reason to limit the number of spayed or neutered animals that a family has.

The Humane Society also wanted to exempt its foster pet owners from the eight-animal limit. But council members told city staff earlier this month that they don't want such an exemption because it would take enforcement out of the hands of the city and leave it up to the discretion of the Humane Society.

Humane Society officials and volunteers argue that there are few people willing to provide foster care for abandoned animals. The proposed ordinance would make it harder to find people to provide foster care, said Charlotte Craig, Humane Society volunteer and director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

Craig, who lives on a farm near Gordonville, has provided foster care for shelter animals in the past.

Without foster care, the shelter would have to euthanize more animals, said Craig.

City officials insist the proposed ordinance wouldn't hamper most pet owners. "We are only going to respond when we receive a complaint," he said.

Strong said officers would work to resolve animal control problems, not haul people into court.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123