The certificates can be used as proof that owners have a tag in case they are lost; pets will still be required to wear the tags, Taylor said. Owners should replace lost tags, she said.

Taylor said she thought postcard reminders would increase dog registration compliance by about 100 -- currently about 800 dogs are registered with they city with tag.

Taylor also wants to increase the impound fee, currently at $20 plus an additional $5 for an overnight stay, and to have the flexibility to increase or decrease it as needed. For those cases that go to court for nuisance violations, Taylor would like to see a stair stepping fine from $40 the first time, $60 for the second time, and $100 for the third time.
Municipal judge Susan Carlson has discretion on what to set the fine. She used to be "pretty strict," but has softened up, Police Chief Bill Robinson said.

"By the third violation she'd make them get rid of the dog," he said.

Forcing people to get rid of their animals for a nuisance violation is probably too hard, Taylor said, but a hefty fine "would get their attention." She shared stories about how, more than once, an owner would let animal out and claimed no fault. Some didn't stop until they were fined, but most did when she threatened them with a heavy fine.


City setting up to handle cats

Registration and nuisance violations will eventually be extended to cats. An area for cats will be set aside in the new shelter, and Taylor has undergone training on how to handle cats.

"We want to address cats, but we are not set up for it yet," Taylor said.

Taylor recommended the city change its ordinance to remove cats from a part of the ordinance that allows residents to keep any number of non-poisonous animals. This part of the ordinance says a person can have as many parakeets, hamsters, cats, etc., provided they are kept them in a "safe and sanitary manner."

This contradicts another part of the ordinance, which limits the numbers of cats and dogs, of any combination of, to no more than three.

Robinson said police can write tickets for cats, but don't have the ability to pick them up yet.

Taylor also recommended the following changes in the animal
control ordinance:

-- Referencing banned dogs by a list rather than explicitly in the ordinance. This would give animal control the flexibility to add breeds that may become a problem as they become a problem. Currently pit bulls and any mix of pit bulls are banned by city ordinance, Taylor and Robinson would like to add any breed that looks like a pit bull.

-- Requiring dogs be vaccinated for rabies "as the state recommends" rather than every two years. If the area has an unusually high number of rabies cases, the state may recommend yearly vaccinations instead of every three years.

-- Mandating that shelters for dogs kept outside in pens and on chains be big enough to house the dogs. Some people are getting around the animal cruelty ordinance by having shelter, buts its not large enough for the animal they're supposed to house, Taylor said.

-- Taylor said she'd like to not allow owners chain their dogs "because it is a hazard" but she is not recommending that at this time. Many people chain their dogs temporarily while putting them out to relieve themselves, she said.

-- Not allowing dogs/cats to be in vehicles for longer than 5 minutes if it's hotter than 80 degrees or colder than 30 degrees.

Editor's note: This version has been changed from the original version that appeared in the Oct. 26 Dispatch, which required a few corrections and clarifications.