Council approves ordinances regarding community cats, menacing dogs

The Oklahoma City Council voted Wednesday to approve ordinance changes to help protect people from menacing dogs and improve the effectiveness of a program to control the community cat population.

The changes, which were introduced June 13 and had public hearings June 20, amend the City’s animal control ordinances. They take effect in 30 days.

Explaining the menacing dogs ordinance

The ordinance changes related to dogs outline new procedures for any dog that is impounded by Animal Welfare and for dogs the Municipal Court declares are menacing.

Under the approved ordinance changes:

• Before any dog that is impounded by Animal Welfare is released to its owners:
  • The dog will be registered and the owner will pay a $12 registration fee.
  • The dog will be micro chipped and spayed or neutered. An exception applies to dogs whose owners can prove the dog’s purebred status.
  • Dog owners must prove they have an adequate enclosure for the dog at home. All dogs impounded by Animal Welfare will be registered, and owners will pay a $12 registration fee before the dog is released.
• Dogs can be deemed menacing if they destroy property (like a fence) in an effort to get to a person or domesticated animal.
• Menacing dogs must be registered with Animal Welfare every year.
• Violators of the ordinances related to menacing or dangerous dogs can be fined up to $500 plus court costs for a first offense, and be sentenced to up to six months in jail and fined up to $1,200 plus court costs for subsequent offenses.

Call 911 if a person or pet’s life is at immediate risk because of a menacing or otherwise dangerous animal. Call Animal Welfare at (405) 297-3100 to report a loose animal that’s not an immediate safety threat.

Explaining the community cats ordinance

The community cats ordinance change approved Wednesday will help make a program that’s already in place become more effective.

The community cats program is a partnership between OKC Animal Welfare and the Central Oklahoma Humane Society to safely and humanely stop feral and loosely-owned cats from reproducing. Feral and loosely-owned cats are trapped and eventually returned to the same location after being evaluated by a veterinarian, vaccinated and spayed or neutered. The cat’s ear is notched to signal that it has been part of the program.

The change helps more cats be part of the program by allowing all healthy, eligible community cats to participate. Previously, the cats could be prohibited from being returned to where they were trapped if a resident objected.

Animal Welfare staff tries to find confirmed or likely owners of all cats that enter their care, not just community cats. Cats that are dangerous or not healthy aren’t eligible for the community cats program.