dgewood Puts Some Teeth In Animal Control Ordinance

EDGEWOOD—Edgewood Police Chief Henry Askew whips out a document showing a breakdown of animal control complaints in the city of Edgewood from 2006 to present.

"You can see a difference," he said, pointing to the figure marking about halfway through 2008.

A year after a comprehensive rewrite of its animal control ordinance, the city is seeing a small reduction in the calls to the police department about stray or noisy dogs, cats and other animals.

From 63 complaints filed in 2006 and 67 in 2007, Edgewood has seen just 28 filed through the first six months of 2008. That puts the issue on pace to drop by 16 percent.

Askew said the current ordinance included more specific language and restrictions the old ordinance did not have.

Among those changes were limits on the number of animals a person could own, acreage requirements for livestock and a ban on swine and poultry in residential neighborhoods.

"It has made a difference, especially after we appointed Jackie (Buccafurno) as the rabies control officer," Askew said. "She stays on top of the calls really close…

"Citations are being issued just as before, but I think the enforcement is better," he added.

The police department and municipal judge Anita Tucker say they are willing to work with anyone issued an animal-related citation.

"I love animals myself, so I want to work with people as much as possible," Tucker said. "But we also have to let them know that if they are going to continue violating the ordinance, they are not going to get repeat chances."

In the past, one of the most frequent problems was with certain residents keeping numerous dogs and cats.

"We had several people who would keep eight to 10 dogs or 15 to 20 cats and allow them to run loose," Askew said. "The biggest complaint was on cats because of the mess they can leave behind."

Now, residents are limited to five total animals in a single-family residence, three for duplexes and apartments.

Askew said most residents have complied with the changes.

"We’ve not met any real resistance," he said. "We give them 10 days to remove an animal if there is a problem.

"We’re not here to punish anybody but we have to protect the city and the animal, so at times we do have to write a citation," Askew continued.

Although the stronger ordinance has helped in the past year, it has not solved everything.

Recently, a complaint was filed about a neighbor’s rooster — poultry owners before the ordinance change were given grandfathered status — and there are still problems that crop up from stray or loose dogs and cats.

In April, a young boy was attacked by a pit bulldog. Askew said the boy has fully recovered from his injuries and the dog was quarantined and destroyed.

Then there is Edgewood’s unofficial feral cat colony.

"There are about 30 of them and they all live back behind the (police) station," Askew said.

He and Tucker walked outside recently to check on the cats, most of whom avoid people by hiding under a storage shed next to Heritage Park.

Askew said the police department feeds the cats, with help from donations of food from some citizens. However, the colony is a shining example of the importance of spaying or neutering pets.

"Jackie makes an extra effort and really stresses to people the importance of vaccinations, spaying or neutering and keeping them (pets) put up," he said.

Not taking these steps can lead to big problems for the city and for other pet owners.

"You can’t catch them to vaccinate them," Askew said about many of the town’s stray or abandoned dogs and cats. "They can carry so many diseases, like feline leukemia with cats, which is highly contagious."

Edgewood resident Johnnie Miller, who helps take care of the feral cat colony, said it often comes down to a question of an owner’s love for the pet.

Miller said she lives in a neighborhood full of pet owners who get along fine.

"We all have animals, and we all love them very much. Not all people who have dogs or cats feel that way, though, and if they (pets) are not vaccinated, that’s a danger," Miller said.

She added that anyone considering buying or adopting a dog or cat should also accept the task of "practicing good animal ownership."

"Be responsible for whatever care is needed for your dog or cat, think about your neighbors and don’t be irresponsible and have your pet become a neighbor’s burden," Miller said.

Edgewood’s little band of homeless felines were cared for and fed by the late Joy Pennock for many years, Miller said.

The good news on the horizon is that the cats may soon have a new home. Askew said he found a retired police officer in Wood County who has a "barn cat" program and has agreed to accept Edgewood’s feral colony.

"We are gradually reducing the feed we give them so we can set (transport) traps and take them to him," Askew said.