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Holiday Island’s new animal control ordinance has received final approval from the city council, but the latest version OK’d could hit the pocketbooks of violators substantially more.
Under the ordinance’s first two readings, penalties for those found guilty of violations of the animal control ordinance would be assessed a fine “of not less that $50 nor in excess of $200, and if the violation continues, each day shall be a separate offense.”
Some council members felt that a $200 maximum fee for violations wasn’t near enough, using examples of loose, out-of-control dogs harming people or other animals.
“If someone gets attacked we’re talking about the liability and responsibility the city has for our citizens,” council member Lynn Dumas said at the council’s regular meeting held May 28. “It goes to that conversation that we’ve had about we’re inspecting short-term rentals because the city’s supposed to be responsible for the safety of the public. Well, for responsible safety for the public, a $200 fine for someone who gets mauled or their dog gets killed by a stray animal, that’s not appropriate.”
Some on the council suggested that a situation like Dumas was referring to would turn into a civil court manner.
“It could,” Dumas responded. “But are we concerned about the public safety or not? And if we are, then we put a fine in place that permits the city to fine in an ordinance that helps instill in people that ‘I have to control my dog so I don’t get fined by the city.’
“… That’s the only reason why we have an ordinance in place.” $200 maximum fine “a joke.”
Dumas later made a motion to set the maximum fine at $20,000, but that motion never got a second.
Council member Linda Graves then made a motion for a $5,000 maximum, which got a second from council member Sharon Lawlor.
Graves, Lawlor and council member Barb Kuhn voted in favor of the amendment to the ordinance with Dumas, Pat Elwood and and Ken Mills voting against.
With a 3-3 tie, Mayor Dan Kees cast the final affirmative vote on the amendment. The council then approved the amended ordinance on its third reading by title only 5-1 with Elwood the lone dissenting vote.
The ordinance will go into effect 30 days from the May 28 date of passage.
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