Sugar Land City Council accredited the primary studying of an ordinance at an April 16 assembly to ascertain charges for harmful dogs and aggressive animal renewals in addition to set up a group cat program.
Terms to know
An aggressive animal is outlined as an animal that—on at the least one event and whereas not legally restrained—has injured or killed a person, is a legally restrained home animal or livestock, or has dedicated unprovoked acts that may lead the individual to consider that an attack is imminent, in keeping with the proposed ordinance.
A harmful canine is outlined as a canine that makes an unprovoked attack on a person inflicting bodily harm in a place apart from the enclosure a canine was being stored or whose acts trigger a person to moderately consider the canine will attack and trigger harm, in keeping with the proposed ordinance.
The particulars
Proposed charges for harmful canine and aggressive animals embrace:
- Dangerous canine registration: $250 preliminary payment with a $50 annual renewal payment
- Aggressive animal registration: $250 preliminary payment with a $50 annual renewal payment
What else?
The metropolis’s Animal Advisory Board additionally seeks to launch a group cat program, which goals to handle cat overpopulation and well being locally by making certain cats are spayed or neutered and vaccinated as wanted. It may handle shelter populations, because it permits some cats to obtain care in communities with out including to shelters.
Through the group cat program, animal rescues, humane organizations or residents intending to supply care, together with meals and/or medical wants, should notify the town with a letter of intention sharing the tackle of the animals in addition to a cellphone quantity and e mail, in keeping with agenda paperwork.
Through this system, provisions permit for:
- Trapping a group cat to supply needed veterinary care; though cats should be launched to the situation the place trapped, until it was unsafe to take action
- Keeping a group cat at a veterinarian for the aim of analysis, rabies vaccinations, sterilization and ear-tipping
Animal City Services launched a pilot program in March 2023 for the cat colony at First Colony mall; throughout the final yr, 18 cats have been trapped for spaying or neutering and returned to the mall, whereas 18 kittens have been adopted or transferred to rescues, Animal Services Manager Cindy King mentioned at a March 19 City Council assembly. The program was initially launched by First Colony mall earlier than the pandemic, although the town didn’t turn out to be linked till late 2022-early 2023.
The background
The ordinance was beforehand dropped at City Council on March 19, the place dialogue from council members and the general public led to the ordinance being tabled for additional assessment by the Animal Advisory Board.
The board met March 22 to finalize language and make clear definitions to be included within the ordinance earlier than showing earlier than City Council on April 16.
Zooming out
Other Greater Houston-area cities have additionally launched related cat group applications, together with Humble, Montgomery County and the town of Houston.
Looking ahead
A second studying of the ordinance can be heard at a May 7 assembly; if accredited, a discover of enactment can be revealed within the official Sugar Land newspaper to make sure the general public is notified of the $500 advantageous per violation for harmful dogs and aggressive animals.
