by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
The city of Sartell is considering dropping the requirement for dog licenses, and that proposal – along with some other proposed changes to the city’s animal ordinance – will be the topic of a public hearing at the Jan. 13 Sartell City Council meeting.
In a memo to the City council, city staff stated, “The city will lose license revenue but will also reduce costs by eliminating the licensing process, and it will be fairer to residents since we have far more dogs in the city than the number being licensed.”
Most of the provisions regarding dogs and cats in the city’s animal ordinance will remain in place, such as the provision that residents in single-family homes may own on their premises no more than two dogs over six months old.
There is, however, a provision that allows people to keep more than two dogs if they met requirements prior to the enactment of the two-limit dog provision of the animal ordinance.
The council, at the Jan. 13 public hearing, will also address provisions for service dogs for those who need them, as suggested by council member Mike Chisum at a council meeting last month.
Other provisions of the ordinance that may be discussed at the public hearing cover such topics as fostering animals for the humane society or other foster agencies; fines for people who allow their animals to run at large; immunization (rabies) requirements for both dogs and cats; registration requirements; impoundment of animals, and commercial kennels.
The Monday, Jan. 13, city council meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
