FORT SMITH — Fort Smith city directors gave tentative approval Tuesday to some changes in the city’s animal-control ordinance and removed other proposed changes to allow for more study.
The directors voted 4-3 to approve the changes to the ordinance after Director Phil Merry suggested amending the proposed fine schedule for dogs caught running at large as a way to encourage owners to spay and neuter their dogs.
Under his amendment, owners with loose dogs that have not been spayed or neutered would be fined but would have the fines waived if they subsequently had the animals altered and provided proof to authorities.
Those whose loose dogs had been previously spayed or neutered would receive a warning for the first offense but would have to pay fines for the second, third and fourth offenses.
Owners with spayed or neutered dogs would pay $50 for the second offense, $100 for the third offense and $200 for the fourth offense.
Those who didn’t have loose dogs spayed or neutered subsequently would have to pay fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, $300 for the third offense and $400 for the fourth offense.
Under the ordinance proposed by the Animal Service Advisory Board, all dog owners would get a warning for the first offense whether or not the dog was spayed or neutered. Owners of loose dogs that weren’t spayed or neutered would be fined $100 for the second offense, $200 for the third offense and $400 for the fourth offense.
Since the ordinance did not pass by a two-thirds majority, it must be read at three separate meetings. The directors scheduled the additional meetings to read the ordinance for Friday and Dec. 27.
The directors also voted to remove three sections of the ordinance to allow for further study.
They removed sections related to the treatment of feral cats, taking photographs of owners of dogs caught running at large and banning the auctioning of animals.
City Director Kevin Settle asked to remove the animal-auctioning section after members of the audience complained the ban could affect livestock auctions and charitable fundraising efforts by such organizations as the Special Olympics and Ducks Unlimited.
Settle also said he feared requiring a loose dog’s owner to be photographed could pose privacy concerns
Arkansas, Pages 16 on 12/22/2012