January 18, 2008
The Dallas Animal Shelter Commission unanimously approves new regulations.
They now go to city council for approval.
____________________________________

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/011808dnmetanimalco
ntrol.224957c.html
http://tinyurl.com/34a7xr
Dallas panel approves proposals to combat
stray animals, neglect
Dallas : Tighter limits target neglect, strays; council vote ahead
11:42 PM CST on Thursday, January 17, 2008
DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasne ws.com

Pet number limits. Mandatory spaying and neutering of most dogs and cats. A
partial ban on chaining animals to trees or posts.

These are among the recommendations Dallas ' Animal Shelter Commission
unanimously approved Thursday night, agreeing that the city's stray animal
population is out of control and too many pets are being neglected by
owners.

The Dallas City Council-appointed commission's suggestions, made in
conjunction with city staff members, will be sent to the council's quality
of life and government services committee for a formal hearing and vote. The
full council serves as final arbiter on whether animal control ordinances
should be created or amended.

The commission's recommendations include:

.Prohibiting city residents from chaining or otherwise tethering their dogs
to trees or posts without supervision, arguing that the practice often
causes animals to become aggressive or injured and leads to neglect. City
animal division manager Willie McDaniel warned that some dog owners will
respond by letting their dogs run free.

"We will get swamped with loose animals. That will happen," Mr. McDaniel
said. "But we can't continue to do what we've been doing. The definition of
insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a
different result."

.Requiring all dogs and cats to be spayed and neutered, except those owned
by people with breeder permits issued by the city government. Animals under
4 months old and those exhibiting applicable medical conditions would also
be exempt. Breeder permits would cost $500 annually and would subject those
in possession to random city inspections.

.Allowing city residents to keep no more than six dogs, cats or a
combination in a single-family home. Animal foster or rescue operations
could keep more upon obtaining permission from the city's animal services
director. People with more than six animals would be grandfathered, meaning
they would not have to give up pets they own.

.Allowing the city to immediately seize animals deemed dangerous, such as
those that have attacked a person without provocation.

Commission Chairman Skip Trimble said the recommendations are the body's
best effort to address complex problems.

"In the long run, I think they should help animal control, and it will
therefore help the neighborhoods, " he said, adding that he doesn't expect
the council to formally take up the recommendations until next month at the
earliest.

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