Council modifies feral cat, dangerous dog ordinances

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Council modifies feral cat, dangerous dog ordinances

By Jeff Osborne

Senior writer & editor

The Gatesville City Council approved the first reading of changes to city ordinances related to animal issues in the city, including adding a definition of the term "dangerous dog" and also amending a section of an ordinance related to feral cat management and permits.

Two more readings are scheduled before the changes become official. Also added is a section related to obligations for owners of dangerous dogs, and penalties for failure to comply with the ordinances.

"The feral cat discussion (during the citizens/visitors forum of the July 26 Council meeting) was the impetus but we noticed there were changes that were needed (in the ordinances)," said City Manager Bill Parry.

He said the city's Animal Advisory Committee will meet on Sept. 29 to make recommendations to present to the Council.

"It needs to be discussed by the advisory committee and brought back to Council," Parry said.

The committee consists of representatives of both Gatesville veterinary clinics, city officials and citizens. 

Gatesville Police Chief Nathan Gohlke gave further details about the ordinance changes.

"The main highlight is under feral cats," he said. A city ordinance states that people may register with the city to become feral cat colony managers, and what the obligations are to do so.

"The city only has one that I'm aware of, but there are certain people in our community that go out and feed feral cats all over town," Gohlke said. He added that they leave food on the sidewalk, which helps to increase the feral cat population and the risk of rabies.

By city ordinance, anyone wanting to provide food and water for feral cat colonies must obtain a permit from the city police department for each feral cat colony located within the city limits.

"It shall be unlawful to manage, own or control a feral cat colony without a feral cat colony manager permit," the ordinance states. "A permit under this chapter may be revoked by the city for any violation of this chapter."

Several specific requirements must be met by the colony manager, including satisfactory completion of a trap, neuter and release education course; implementation of proper management and sterilization practices; providing fresh food and water daily; removing sick and injured cats from the colony; submitting annual reports to the city's animal control department on the number of cats, number sterilized and location of veterinary clinic used, and other information required by the city; requirement of a permit as a feral cat colony manager to feed a cat running at large outside the property owned by the person feeding the cat; and obtaining written permission from the landowner where feral cats congregate or are fed.

Regarding dangerous dogs, Gohlke said, "It's pretty specific what a city must do" and added that a dangerous dog is defined as a dog that makes an "unprovoked attack on a person off the property in which the dog is enclosed." 

Gohlke said the city had two dogs within the city limits that were registered as dangerous dogs, but that one of them recently died. 

The ordinance related to dangerous dogs requires the owner to register the dog with the city's animal control authority; restrain the dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in a secure enclosure; obtain liability insurance or show financial responsibility in an amount of at least $100,000 to cover damages resulting from an attack by the dangerous dog causing bodily injury to a person.

The ordinance states that a person learns that he or she is the owner of a dangerous dog when the owner knows of an attack on a person off that animal's property; or when animal control notifies them that the dog is dangerous. If someone reports an incident related to an attack, animal control may investigate and determine whether the dog is dangerous.

If a person is found guilty of an offense under the dangerous dog ordinance, the court may order the dangerous dog to be destroyed. A person who commits an offense is liable for a civil penalty of up to $10,000.

"By state law, we cannot identify a specific breed as dangerous," City Manager Parry said. Instead, that is determined by a dog's actions and the owner is responsible for them.

"If you have a dangerous dog and it escapes and attacks someone, it is a criminal offense," Parry said.

Those who own a dangerous dog must also pay an additional $50 fee to register this animal each year and must place signs on their property notifying people that there is a dangerous dog on the premises."

City Councilwoman Barbara Burrow asked what can be done if someone in the city has three or four litters of cats on their property.

"Because they are domesticated, this would not fall under the feral cat regulations," Gohlke said. "Instead, it would be addressed by (Gatesville residents) being limited to a combination of six dogs or cats."

One thing the feral cat ordinance will do is to make it illegal for a person to leave cat food on a sidewalk or a street. Anyone doing that can be issued a citation and required to appear in municipal court.

Additional readings of the animal ordinances are scheduled at the Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 Council meetings.