ANDERSON, Ind. —
A proposal to require cats and dogs in the city to be spayed or neutered or for their owners to obtain breeder licenses was scratched for the time being.
The Anderson City Council on Thursday tabled an ordinance that had been proposed as a means to control a stray animal population that Animal Care and Control staff members and volunteers have said is exploding.
But the proposal before the council brought out dozens of pet owners and breeders who raised objections.
“We need to rewrite what we’ve written,” Animal Care and Control Director Maleah Stringer acknowledged after more than 90 minutes of discussion and public comments about the proposed ordinance. People who spoke about the proposal were encouraged to help revise the ordinance.
“My intent is to reduce the number of animals that are running loose and being neglected ... and coming into the shelter,” Stringer said, noting that since May, the shelter has taken in 1,000 animals and increased the number euthanized. At such a rate, she said, “We cannot continue to handle them in a humane manner.”
Several people complained that the proposal would place a burden on responsible owners and breeders and would not be enforceable. It called for a $100 fine for people who did not spay or neuter pets, or who bred dogs or cats without a permit, though officials said the intent was to target “backyard breeders.”
Anderson groomer Sherry Patterson said she found that when people were educated about the cost and potential problems involving animals that aren’t spayed and neutered, they almost always decided against breeding. She cast doubt on whether an ordinance would make a difference.
“You’re making a law here that’s unenforceable,” she said. “You can’t stop it with this ordinance.”
Melissa Krieg said she’s in law enforcement and that people who are causing problems with abused and neglected animals would not change their behavior because of the ordinance as written. “Criminals aren’t honest,” she said. “This is honestly going to hurt the people that are law-abiding people.”
John Richardson of Noblesville breeds champion English bulldogs, including some in Anderson. The ordinance as proposed would have limited animals to one litter per year.
“This would keep us from being able to breed some of the best purebred dogs,” he said.
“We think we can solve social problems by passing laws,” said Greg Norton of Anderson. He noted there already are laws on the books against allowing pets to run free. “Those aren’t being enforced.”
Several speakers acknowledged a need to act to reduce animal overpopulation in the city, including some who volunteer at Animal Care and Control.
“Go up there and look,” one volunteer said. “It’ll change your mind.”
Other business
In other action, the Anderson City Council on Thursday:
- Gave initial rezoning approval for .54 acres at Shadyside Park that the neighboring Prairie Farms dairy hopes to purchase for expansion of its plant. The successful bidder for the property must also rebuild the sled hill on the property to be acquired. Bids for the property will be opened by the Park Board on Sept. 7.
- Approved on first and second reading an agreement between Anderson and the towns of Chesterfield and Edgewood on sewage rates. The agreement ends a two-year lawsuit and gives the towns a rate equal to that paid by industrial users.
- Approved on first and second reading salary ordinances for all city employees that reflect no increases in salaries for 2011. There could be salary cuts, which would be reflected when the ordinances are presented for final reading at the council’s next regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in council chambers of the city building.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com
