After 37 years and a stream of suggestions, the 1982 animal control ordinance received unanimous approval by the Hattiesburg City Council during its Tuesday, Sept. 17, meeting.
Hattiesburg Customer Service Coordinator Joe Paul has worked on the revisions for the past five months, trying to find a balance “with animal owners, animal lovers, and those who care about the welfare of animals versus securing other property owner’s rights to reasonable privacy.”
The Hattiesburg City Council received the second draft of the city’s proposed animal control ordinance Sept. 3 after the American Kennel Club issued an alert less than a week before the ordinance was to be presented. Paul made revisions in the draft, and the ordinance was passed Sept. 17.
Paul said he was glad to see the ordinance enacted.
Customer Service Coordinator Joe Paul
“You know I’m excited that there was so much engagement in the process by the city,” he said. “Now we’ll go about the business, so those that are sworn to enforce it, and the public (will) know what is in the ordinance.”
Some of the changes from the draft that was tabled included clarifying when invisible electrical fences can be used, a necessary clarification for when animal control officers can enter private property rights for calls – where they either personally observe the infraction or there is a sworn complaint, and the distinction between somebody breeding commercially and as a singular in-home hobby breeder.
In the second draft of the proposed ordinance, the 14 claims included in the AKC’s alert included eight false accusations – five were either inflammatory or misleading. Two claims by the American Kennel Club – limiting all residents to six animals and premises where animals are maintained are subject to inspection – are both the current law included in the 1982 ordinance.
Paul said early in the process that he had two goals in mind: enforce the humane treatment and care of animals and provide for the safety of humans and pets.
Paul had offered preliminary revisions in the current ordinance in several areas, including classifications of dangerous dogs, penalties for having a vicious animal, limitations on keeping pets, and defining a habitual animal offender.
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