The Fort Worth City Council adopted changes to the city's animal control code Tuesday night.
Earlier ordinance proposals included some elements that seemed extreme and difficult to enforce, such as linking fencing requirements to a dog's height and weight. The ordinances evolved with citizen input. Fences now must be at least four feet tall and "...be constructed of sufficient strength to prevent the animal from escaping and be made of chain link, welded wire, wrought iron, brick, block, wood stockade or other material approved by the Director. "
The city added an Aggressive Dog designation. Dogs deemed "Aggressive" require six-foot fences. An "Aggressive" dog has "...repeatedly, and unprovoked, bitten or attacked other domestic animals or people inside the dogs enclosure or who repeatedly and aggressively attempt to escape from their enclosure in an attempt to attack another domestic pet or person." The Director of Animal Care and Control may waive the requirement based on the size and condition of the dog and the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
The bar to declare dogs "Aggressive" is lower than that for declaring dogs "Dangerous." A dangerous dog hearing is held before a judge in Municipal Court. However, a dog may be declared "Aggressive" by a code compliance officer if it meets one of the above three criteria. The owner may then petition to the Director or, after being issued a citation, take his or her case before the Municipal Court.
Dogs declared Dangerous in other jurisdictions may not be moved into the City. Also, dogs declared Dangerous will require a $500 annual permit (current dogs will be grandfathered at the current fee of $50 annually).
Fort Worth is adopting a one-time intact pet permit fee of $50, which can be waived if the owner attends a responsible pet ownership class. Other cities have adopted higher annual fees to register pets that are not spayed or neutered (in Dallas, the cost is $100 annually). The City of Fort Worth explains, "The City wants to focus on compliance and allocate resources addressing violations, not processing additional permits every year. Compliant and responsible pet owners do not add to the City’s cost, so they would be rewarded. Keeping the cost reasonable will also promote greater compliance."
The ordinance, which passed unanimously, includes other key changes:
- Minimum pen size of 48 square feet for dogs kept in pens for a substantial portion of the day. Rescue groups and boarders are exempt.
- Lower registration fees for micro-chipped animals and for chipped animals with a three-year rabies vaccine
- Dog-at-large fines increase from $200 to $500.
- The City may use the animal cruelty process to seize tethered animals (Fort Worth has a tethering ordinance which has been addressed by citation only).
- Impound fees will be variable depending on the type of animal, effort required to catch it, and whether or not it had to be quarantined.
For more details visit the FAQ's on the City of Fort Worth's website.
Comments
Although I opposed this new ordinance, I really don't think it is too extreme or unfair for responsible pet owners.
My main reason for opposing it is that it WON'T do anything to make the streets of Fort Worth safer, or to prevent tragedies like the death of the little girl that triggered this whole mess. Many dogs on the street are strays, they have no owners who would have to obey the regulations. And trying to identify "aggressive dogs" BEFORE they ever actually DO anything to hurt anyone is going to be a nightmare.
Good report!
Thanks for a great post. The fact that this ordinance is not breed specific is fabulous! Though I feel that the some of the description used that could deem a dog as dangerous is a little vague "who repeatedly and aggressively attempt to escape from their enclosure in an attempt to attack another domestic pet or person." A dog that attempts to escape from their enclosure? What does this mean? I walk my pit bulls past numerous homes in my neighborhood, many of whom have various breeds of dogs who exhibit barrier frustration and are aggressively attempting to escape from their enclosed yards. If we had this ordinance in Seattle then many responsible owners could be punished, even though their dogs are not escaping yards and causing problems. Again, how can this be enforced? Sorry for the many questions - just thinking aloud.
Thanks for the comments, everyone. I too am concerned about selective enforcement regarding normal dog behavior (such as wanting to chase a cat). We bulldog people call it "BSL By Proxy." It will remain to be seen how this turns out. And now that the City of Fort Worth has a budget shortfall that is causing layoffs, now you really have to wonder if the resources and training will be sufficient to implement this correctly. I hope that people who are treated unfairly will challenge it, including going to the city council if needed, and not just get rid of their dogs.
I need help with my protector. She is a 5 yr old intelligent, loving German Shepard. She's around babies all the time and people. She is protective of our property and people from strangers as most Shepard. A new owner who is Asian ( I am not racial profiling just fact, in their culture they eat dogs) owns the property next door. His tenants who I introduced myself with a card , said they already met my dogs by feeding them biscuits. Well the owner got stuck mowing the lawn which was over a foot or weeding with a weed eater. Long story short I get home and my dogs ear is ripped apart about one inch and blood all over her head. I go to my mail box and have a notice of a dog bite and must quarantine my dog for 10 days at the pound or vet. Well after all the trauma of ten days I get her out. Ten days later, luckily I was off work. A knock at the door and its the police and animal control with a warrant to seize my dog voluntary or by force because she is considered dangerous dog.
If you have a dangerous dog why would they release it? Why the storm troopers. I pay taxes am a good citizen and been robbed like everyone else in FT. Worth. Where by the way ,they now tell me you can shoot someone in broad daylight in your yard for probable reason? Your punished as a criminal when your dog is in your yard and bites someone who is encroaching on your property all the while being warned? Did I mention everybody's getting robbed and some murdered.
Greg, I am going through the same thing right now. My dog bit someone outside when the leash broke. I was standing right there. My dogs are in quarantine right now. So is the dangerous dog mandate coming to me? How was the process?
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