Florence Adopts New Animal Control Regulations
On August 15, 2011 the Florence City Council adopted a new Animal Code that has some significant changes. As part of our approach to code enforcement being one of education and voluntary compliance, it is important that outreach to the community be done before the ordinance becomes effective on September 15, 2011. Enforcement action of the animal code in its entirety will be done primarily by the Code Enforcement Officer and supplemented by the police officers as necessary. Enforcement action will be generally generated on a complaint driven basis.
It will now be a violation for an animal owner or for the person in control of the animal, other than a cat, to allow that animal to leave its solid waste on the property of another without promptly removing the waste. This means that if people walk their dogs and their dogs “do their business” on property other then their own, then the people must pick up the waste created. Failure to do so then becomes the violation.
The “leash law” portion of the new Animal Code is something that needs to be discussed. Whenever any animal, other than a healthy cat, is off or outside the private property of its owner or the person in control of it, the animal must be on a leash or tether that is adequate to control the animal. It cannot be longer than 6 feet in length. People are not permitted to allow dogs to run off leash anywhere in the city except on their own property. Leash law violations are punishable by fines of $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second violation, $200 for the third violation, $400 for the fourth violation, and everything after that is $750. Obviously should an animal be found running at large and taken to the Florence Area Humane Society, the owner of the animal may find themselves subject to a citation when they claim their dog.
The new ordinance addresses “Off Leash Areas”. Currently there are no “dog parks” in the city. The Florence City Council may at some point in the future designate certain areas as off leash areas for dogs. Whenever any such designation occurs it could take effect immediately. Dog owners would be required to follow the rules of the park (no fighting with other dogs, no barking or threatening behavior, and no injuring any person or animal). Also dogs which have been or are designated as Dangerous Animals under this new Animal Code will not be permitted in any Off Leash Area under any circumstances.
The laws surrounding the feeding of wild animals were adjusted. Beginning September 15th, if any person leaves food outside for any purpose, including for the purpose of feeding domestic animals and pets, in a place where wild animals can access it, that person would be in violation of the new Animal Code. This doesn’t apply to birdseed held in receptacles that are designed to prevent access by wild animals. It also doesn’t apply to the feeding of caged animals provided they are fed in a way that prevents access to the food by other animals. It also does not apply to providing food, during daytime hours, in live traps being used to capture feral cats for spaying and/or neutering.
There have been some questions as to what animals are prohibited after September 15. Under the new ordinance, livestock (cows, sheep, pigs, horses, etc.), rodents which do not meet the definition of exotic pets (exotic pets include turtles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.), poisonous snakes, large carnivorous snakes, bears, deer, felines other than domestic cats, crocodiles, alligators, or other similar predators not customarily and routinely kept in residential areas as domestic pets are all prohibited. Female chickens which do not create a nuisance will be permitted under the new Code, but no roosters.
The new code in its entirety is posted on the City of Florence website as an attachment to this article. After September 15, 2011 it will be available in the city code portion of the website under Title 6, Chapter 1. Should anyone have any question in regard to the new animal code, you are encouraged to contact either myself or Lt. Gutierrez at the Florence Police Department. We may be reached at maurice [dot] sanders [at] ci [dot] florence [dot] or [dot] us and ray [dot] gutierrez [at] ci [dot] florence [dot] or [dot] us respectively. You may also contact us at 541-997-3515.
