Ordinance changes to benefit pets, endorsed by the Columbus Animal Care Services Commission, will be considered by the Columbus City Council.
Commission members have approved recommending a number of proposed amendments to existing animal ordinances, said City Councilman Tom Dell, who serves as liaison to Animal Care Services.
One amendment regards conditions that pets are subjected to when they are usually kept in outdoor shelters such as doghouses, said Animal Care Services manager Nicohl Birdwell Goodin.
At any day when the temperature is at above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the shelter must be shaded by trees, a tarp or a tarp-like device, Birdwell Goodin said.
The proposal states that dogs must be brought into a temperature-controlled facility when:
The temperature is at or below 20 degrees.
The temperature is at or above 90 degrees.
When a heat advisory, wind chill warning, tornado watch or warning has been issued.
The only exception is when the dog is in the visual range of a competent adult who is outside with the animal, Birdwell Goodin said.
In the winter, when the temperature is at or below 40 degrees, the outdoor shelter must be just large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around, the animal care services director said.
The entrance must be covered by a flexible, wind-proofing material, or self-closing door, she said. In addition, it must contain clean, dry bedding consisting of an insulating material that does not retain moisture, Birdwell Goodin said. She recommends straw of a sufficient depth for the dog to burrow, rather than blankets.
These proposals are modeled after recent changes made in Indianapolis, Birdwell Goodin said.
Another proposed amendment concerns free-roaming outdoor felines frequently called community cats. While these animals are often considered synonymous with wild feral cats, Dell say the proposal is geared more toward slightly more sociable cats who get food and attention from several different families or sources.
For these cats, the commission is proposing a trap, neuter and release program intended to reduce the number of strays in certain areas of Columbus, Dell said. Cats who are fixed and receive vaccinations will be marked with the removal of a tiny portion of an ear tip to let others know the feline has been treated, the councilman said.
Since community cats are useful in eliminating certain rodents and pests, the release of a fixed feline back into his or her old neighborhood is often considered beneficial, Dell said.
Finally, a proposal will be made that will lower the amount of time that dogs and cats are held back from being considered for adoption, Dell said.
While most of these animals aren’t eligible for adoption for a week in case their owners attempt to claim them, the councilman says almost all lost pets are reclaimed within a few days.
Most of these proposed changes reflect best practices adopted across the country that Animal Care Services manager Nicohl Birdwell Goodin has learned during out-of-state conferences, Dell said.
Since these changes require ordinance changes, rather than a resolution, the city council is required to vote on them twice.
The initial first reading is scheduled for the Columbus City Council meeting on Tuesday. A second consideration of the changes would then be heard on Sept. 3.
