8467-94 Amending Various sections within Chapter 5 Animals & Fowls

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Cover Letter for the Animal Control Ordinance Page 2 (b) It would require Commission agendas to be sent to the City Clerk's Office, the Chairpersons of the Public Health and Safety Committee, the Residential Neighborhood Committee and the Department of Code Enforcement so that information is better disseminated. It would also require minutes of such Commission meetings to be sent to these same individuals. (c) It would require the Department of Code Enforcement to send monthly lists to the individuals listed in paragraph (b) of all "warning notices" issued for first-time violators of the annual registration and vaccination requirements. It would further require a summary listing of the follow-up citations issued to all first-time violators who failed to comply with the previously issued warning notice. 3. Cat Registration and Vaccination Required. As nationally reported, "...the number of rabies cases in cats exceeded that of any other domestic animal..." (Special Reports, JAVMA, Vol. 201, No. 12, page 1836 December 15, 1992) Because of the growing concern over rabies, I believe that it is good public policy to require the vaccination and registration of cats. The proposed ordinance would let the cat owner decide whether its pet should wear the registration tag on a collar,or have the pet permanently identified with a microchip identification tag. In this way, the pet owner makes the final decision which he or she believes is in the best interest of their pet. All pet owners however must be able to provide proof of such vaccination and registration whether the animal wears a collar or not. 4. Microchip Identification Tags. Microchips the "size of a grain of rice" can now be programmed with an identification number and encased in material that will not harm an animal. Microchips provide two(2)very positive features,namely they: - allow breeders to identify animal that came from their businesses, and -to help lost animals return to their owners. (The South Bend Tribune, January 7, 1993 "Shelter Using Microchips to Identify Pets") Owners of"potentially dangerous dogs" would also have the option of the microchip or a tattoo,with the owner making the final decision.