At Monday’s city council meeting, the ordinance amending animal care was finally discussed after several consecutive months of deferral. Alderman Mickey Schneider urged council to move this item forward to protect animals from being kept in abandoned homes. “Let’s protect our animals and quit being extremists,” Schneider said. The draft ordinance was written, “It shall be a violation of City law to either confine an animal or animals at a location that is not occupied by a human being or beings on a regular daily basis.”
Aldermen Bob Thomas, Terry McClung and Susan Harman argued that although the ordinance amendment is well intended, it may inadvertently harm residents who are on vacation and leave their pets at home with a petsitter.
With aldermen Melissa Greene and Schneider opposed, council approved deferring the item for the City Attorney, who was not at the meeting, to edit the proposed ordinance amendment language.