City tables proposed animal ordinances
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Jan 19, 2010
Story Updated:
Jan 20, 2010
The Laredo Health Department is asking City Council to approve stricter ordinances for pet owners.
The new list of laws, however, has many local veterinarians speaking out, saying the city of Laredo doesn't even enforce current animal ordinances, and even stricter laws will instead create a bigger pet problem in Laredo.
“The current ordinance does not have a penalty. What we're proposing would include a 100 dollar fine.”
Dr. Hector Gonzalez, talking at City Council, asking that current pet ordinances be updated and, in some cases, include penalties for pet owners who have not registered their dog or cat.
“With all due respect to our City Council, this was going to institute a fee 100 dollars minimum, 500 dollars maximum.”
Other ordinances proposed put more restrictions on exotic animals, meaning owning a reptile like a snake, for example, would be out of the question.
New rules, some vets say, are not suitable for Laredo.
“The entire 48 pages were pulled from Dallas, Texas, instead of looking at other border cities with similar environmental situations were surrounded with ranches and farmland even within our city.”
The wording on other codes would also impact local businesses.
“Currently anyone can put a hamster, ferret can interact with our bird in the store, but all that would be banished.”
Rather than adopting tougher ordinances, vets are asking Council Members to take a different approach.
Many vets say they're willing to microchip the city's pets for a minimal cost over the span of one year and even register them for free, making it easier for code enforcement officers to identify the owner and solve several problems.
“I feel we need to work harder to implement new laws already on the books get them implemented properly before we make new laws.”
In the end, City Council decided to table the issue and gave Dr. Gonzalez 30 days to meet with local veterinarians and possibly come up with ordinances that are a little better suited for Laredo.
The also plan on making sure the current ordinances are enforced before moving any further.
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givemeabreak said on Friday, Jan 22 at 12:26 PM
LOOK - its very simple - people are the problem - not the animals - and the city is doing this because of people who REFUSE to be responsible pet owner, the only way to get through to people like that is to get them where it hurts - the pocket book - I have 6 animals and they are all fixed, because I have seen first hand the death that takes place at the animal shelter - old dogs and puppies alike, die everyday because no one wants them - Ponder that
36139192PERROS said on Thursday, Jan 21 at 11:44 PM
I live on the shiloh area and every day I see those stupid big dogs walking like if the own the neighborhood, seems like once you have a new house might as well have a big dog to show off, some even tie those stupid dogs on their front yards to intimidate the whole neighborhood,
36106444A Knapp said on Thursday, Jan 21 at 9:44 PM
I have to agree, enforce the laws currently on the books. I was talking to this one police officer about enforcement of the "jay walking" law, and he stated that the PD don't enforce it because most of the time people can't pay. (Note: This is at the time pedestrians were being hit by cars) I guess they figure people who have pets CAN pay. Seems silly to me.
36101419heads said on Thursday, Jan 21 at 9:23 AM
these fools can not even enforce the current laws and they want to add more goes to show these so called leaders have no common sense and they want to run for mayor? we need to vote them OUT of office and send a strong message
36052502if you love you pet said on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 3:18 PM
Love involves spending money, if you are too poor to have a pet... very simple DO NOT HAVE ONE !!!! Animal Negligence starts when you realize you are "too poor" or unwilling to spend money in your "loved" animal for the well being of the general population.
36009214Gato Bonito said on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 2:47 PM
It is time for all those owners that leave their dogs unattended or cannot control their dogs because those dogs are too big for them to comply with the city. I have seen owners that do not have the physical, mental and financial capability to be responsible, The first thing a dangerous dog owner does is to hide or call his friends in the city to realease him of theeir legal responsability.
36006764you have to be responsible said on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 2:38 PM
As long as one of you children has not been attacked by an uncontrolable pit bull it is very easy to avoid responsbility or to hide behind those responsible owners. It is time to submit to the regulations for the welfare and wellbeing of the general population and leave the "pobrecito" mentality behind you.
36006027max said on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 10:58 AM
The proposal is obviously to generate more tax dollars, the simple thing to do is make spaying and neutering mandatory or get a breeders license.If this is passed I hope the animal shelter is ready for the influx of people turning in pets, you would have to be out of your mind to spend money for a stupid ideas like this.Vets are going to be put out of busisness and stores can take the pet supplies off the shelves.
35988099My Opinion said on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 10:53 AM
First create a 19-member Animal Control Commission that would oversee the city's Division of Animal Control, including evaluating the job performance of The Laredo Health Department Dr. Hector Gonzalez and the animal control officers. Second create an Animal Control ombudsman within the Mayor's Action Bureau to handle animal control complaints on a day-to-day basis.
35987572mona said on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 10:52 AM
All these clowns woke up with their heads on the wrong end of their bodies.
35987444UTMale said on Tuesday, Jan 19 at 11:36 PM
How can we, the city & our pockets, make more money?? Lets charge a fee to own a pet! IF you cannot afford the fee we FINE you an outrageous FINE! Yes, its true if you cant afford a vets visit you can't afford a pet! But c'mon Lrdo already lost a bookstore what else can you take away from Laredo? City council just thinks about the bottom line, yes there is a over-pet population but if the vets would use Lrdo as a teaching environment for future vets lrdo can get their pets fixed @ low cost
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