BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
The Prattville City Council passed amended ordinance Tuesday night, giving more “teeth” regarding inhumane treatment of dogs, defining adequate shelters and banning dog tethering/chains.
It was a unanimous vote, and the final product included many months of work on the ordinance that was first introduced in August of this year.
With community input, including that from officials who deal with animal complaints on a regular basis, the ordinance addresses issues such as dogs chained and left with no shelter, water or food. It also covers dogs who are in poor health and not receiving medical care, or abused.
Under Sec. 10-42. – Inhumane treatment of dogs prohibited.
“It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to keep such dog in any enclosure or on any leash or other restraint unless the restraint shall be so arranged that such dog shall at all times have available water, shade and property shelter, or to treat any dog in any other inhumane manner.”
Animal owners are expected to keep control of their pets, but the ordinance focused in part on the methods used. It is under the owners’ discretion as long as it does not present a hazard to the dog, the general public or otherwise fails to comply with the ordinance.
Chaining, tethering and trolley chaining of dogs to any object, stationary or otherwise is now prohibited.
An exception to this is if the dog is participating in a judged show, or being examined by a veterinarian.
No person owning or keeping a dog shall subject the dog to cruel conditions or inhumane tethering at any time. Cruel conditions and inhumane tethering are defined as, but not limited to, the following conditions:
Filthy and dirty confinement conditions including excessive animal waste, garbage, dirty water, noxious odors, dangerous objects that could injure or kill the dog, or other circumstances that could cause harm to the dog’s physical health.
Taunting, prodding, hitting, harassing, threatening or otherwise harming a tethered or confined dog.
Subjecting the dog to dangerous conditions, including but not limited to attack by other animals.
If a dog is kept outside there must be a pen or it must b contained in a fenced area. That area should be structurally sound, moisture-proof and wind-proof as well as large enough to keep the dog clean and dry.
Those structures should have four walls, and the floor should be at least two inches above the ground, free of cracks, holes or nails or rough edges that could cause injury.
Under the new ordinance, any duly authorized officer or employee of a recognized humane society can take charge of any animals which is sick or disabled dur to neglect, abuse. The owner/custodian will have 10 days to remedy the violation and retrieve the dog from a shelter. The owner/custodian will be responsible for the cost of care of the animals during that period.
Councilor Robert Strichik thanked everyone involved in the amended ordinance for their input. “Amendments made to this ordinance – we will make sure it is right and enforceable. Cruelty to animals is something near and dear to my heart. It took a little longer to put it all together…but I think everyone agrees it is a pretty solid ordinance. Hopefully this will get some dogs off of chains. Hopefully today is a good day for dogs in the city of Prattville.”
The above is a summary of the amended ordinance. You can read the full ordinance on the City of Prattville’s website, under the Sept. 21 Council Agenda Packet.
