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PROVO — Dog homeowners might face fines for not holding their pets on leashes or not cleansing up after them.
The Provo City Council is drafting such an ordinance. Council intern Abi Maccabee presented potential penalties for dog waste and dogs not on leashes in public places to the council Tuesday during a work session.
She mentioned the town has acquired quite a lot of complaints in the previous few months about unleashed dogs and elevated canine waste at parks, on trails and on sidewalks. Councilwoman Katrice MacKay frequents the Provo Farmers Market and mentioned quite a lot of canine waste has been left behind, and the sidewalks are slim so she is anxious about having so many massive dogs round youngsters and meals being ready.
City officers began discussions over the canine complaints in August and requested the council to have a look at metropolis code and provide you with penalty choices and potential bans on dogs at occasions.
The metropolis code presently says an animal management officer can concern citations for homeowners who do not have their dogs restrained in public locations, both with a leash or another restraint, or homeowners who depart canine waste on any property that is not their very own. Maccabee, nonetheless, mentioned the code’s language is “very imprecise” and does not have sufficient element, so she was desirous about implementing extra particular stipulations.
Maccabee researched what insurance policies different cities across the nation have put in place for canine points and proposed mushy, medium and exhausting penalties for off-leash and canine waste violations.
The council unanimously authorized a movement to arrange an ordinance with the proposed mushy penalties for violations. Details on how these violations could be enforced haven’t been determined but, however council members mentioned having officers in areas which might be recognized for violations at occasions that violations happen essentially the most.
The off-leash violation penalties would begin at $25 for a primary offense, $50 for the second offense and $100 and $150 for third and fourth violations, respectively. A fifth offense might imply seizure of the animal.
For canine waste violations, penalties would begin at $50 then enhance to $100, $150 and $200 for subsequent offenses with potential seizure on the fifth offense, as effectively.
“I undoubtedly assume the proposed penalty payment schedule will assist hold the general public safer and can assist hold the town cleaner. I feel it is an vital concern. Not everybody loves dogs, and I feel it is a approach to hold everybody joyful whereas having fun with our dogs and our pets,” Maccabee mentioned.
Once the ordinance drafting course of is accomplished, the City Council will meet once more to contemplate making the ordinance official.
Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi mentioned she feels that by utilizing “heavy enforcement” for these violations on the totally different parks, “the phrase will get out” and canine homeowners will begin abiding by the coverage.
Maccabee additionally introduced up potential bans on dogs at public metropolis occasions, such because the farmers market, resulting from issues of kid security, contamination with meals being prepped and the elevated quantities of canine waste being left on the park.
She really useful the council take into account a ban on dogs from public occasions or city-sponsored occasions on metropolis property. All service dogs could be exempt from such a coverage.
“I hope Provo residents take discover of the difficulty that is happening in Provo. And for individuals who are canine homeowners, simply be good and be accountable canine homeowners so we are able to all take pleasure in our pets in our personal areas,” Maccabee mentioned. “I really like dogs, however I feel folks want to know that dogs aren’t folks and typically we have to lay down boundaries when it comes to folks’s areas and dogs.”
Councilman George Handley voiced concern that banning dogs at public occasions is perhaps pointless if dogs are already required to be leashed.
“In phrases of public occasions, a part of me wonders: If we had been to undertake one thing that prohibited all dogs at public occasions, are we attempting to unravel an issue we do not have, or is that this truly a problem as effectively?” Handley mentioned.
Council members mentioned different options might embody modifications to metropolis occasion layouts the place dogs would solely allowed in areas the place meals is not being ready.
The council determined to push dialogue on dogs at public occasions to a future assembly.
