HOW WE SEE IT: Pet Problem Warrants Council Action

— Springdale Animal Services euthanized 1,599 animals in 2009, according to director Brett Harris. That was an average of more than four per day.

We imagine that the folks at Animal Services take no pleasure in putting this many creatures to sleep. The problem is that their shelter can accommodate only so many animals, and there are days when those animals arrive by the dozen.

This is an obvious problem that demands attention.

Kudos to Springdale City Council for doing something about it by considering revisions to its animal ordinance

Under the proposed changes, registration and microchipping would be required for all dogs and cats more than six months old.

The microchip is an easy way to ensure that a pet can be matched to its owner - even better than tags, which animals sometimes lose. If Animal Services picks up a pet that is microchipped, often the dog or cat can be returned to its owner without even taking it to the shelter. If the pet is not microchipped, there is the sad possibility that the pet will never see its family again.

Some have complained about the cost of microchipping, but we consider it a bargain considering the peace of mind it provides owners. Animal Services plans to offer low-cost chipping at specific times during the year for as little as $20. Anyone who can afford to keep a pet can afford this.

We also appreciate that the city is looking at stricter fines for people who allow their dogs to get loose and roam - one big reason for unwanted breeding, not to mention a danger and an annoyance to residents. If authorities catch a dog on the loose, Springdale would fine the owner between $50 and $250, depending on whether the dog is sterilized and how many times the owner has been cited.

But if an owner is charged with allowing an “unaltered” (not spayed or neutered) dog to get loose, he has the option of getting the dog altered before his court date to qualify for the same fine as if the dog had been altered in the first place. This is a reasonable gesture.

Dealing with people who repeatedly allow their dogs to roam costs the city. Dealing with unwanted stray cats and dogs costs the city, too. These proposed ordinance changes ought to reduce the city’s costs while justifiably demanding a higher sense of responsibility from the pet owners.

And, Animal Services likely won’t have to euthanize many of our furry friends.

All around, this is good legislation.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 03/31/2010

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