The Jefferson City Council has opted not to act on proposed changes concerning animals housed outside, at least not yet.
At the City Council meeting Monday, a proposed bill to change the code concerning animals housed outside was placed on the informal calendar, where it will remain until the council chooses to act on it, or it dies for lack of action.
The proposed changes have been described by officials as accomplishing three things: allow the police to take the dog's breed, age, size and condition into consideration when determining the proper shelter; more clearly define what a suitable shelter entails; and allow for a dog in danger of a life-threatening health condition to be temporarily impounded.
Second Ward Councilman J. Rick Mihalevich said it was never his intention to fast track the bill without thorough review. Because some residents have questioned the need for the changes, Mihalevich previously said he would not push the bill until the council was comfortable voting.
"It's become clear that further questions have arisen," Mihalevich said.
Mihalevich said he has directed the city's legal staff to answer questions they have received from the public and bring those to the council before action is taken.
"It's still my full intent to bring this back and to pass this," Mihalevich said.
Mihalevich opted to place it on the informal calendar, without first offering the new substitute bill, which was included in the council packet. City Attorney Drew Hilpert advised not officially accepting the substitute yet, as more changes may be coming.
The latest version of the substitute bill takes out the proposed section concerning specifications for a dog shelter, instead specifying only the following:
• "The structure shall be suitable for the breed, age, condition, size, and type of the dog; and
• The structure shall be moisture-resistant so it is not easily affected or harmed by water, wind-resistant, and of suitable size and type to allow the animal to stand, turn about freely, lie in a normal position, and regulate proper body temperature; and
• Suitable drainage shall be provided so that water will not unreasonably gather or pool and appropriate dry bedding shall be utilized inside the structure; and
• The dog must have space outside its shelter to move around and urinate and defecate away from its confinement, and this space must be free of broken glass and similar potentially dangerous materials which could result in injury to the dog; and
• Floors of shelter, runs and walls shall be of appropriate waterproof material to permit proper cleaning and disinfection."
The substitute bill kept in a section giving animal control officers power of enforcement, but it did change the language to make clear a "reasonable effort" has been made to notify the owner.
The new section states: "If an owner or person in charge of any animal is in violation of the above sections and the animal is in danger of a life threatening health condition, the director or the senior animal control officer may impound and place in the city animal shelter any animal in danger after a reasonable effort to notify the owner and allowing the owner the opportunity to correct the violation. If such animal is impounded, the director shall notify the owner thereof of the impoundment of such animal. A life-threatening health condition includes: the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm, tornado, heat advisory, cold advisory, or a winter storm warning for Cole County, Missouri and the animal is being held in violation of this section. An impounded animal will be subject to normal city animal shelter procedure for impounded dogs."