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even though most pet owners report that they consider their pets <br />of the family, animal control laws often treat the entire pet-ow <br />munity as the problem and their pets as disposable commodities o <br />sances that must be monitored or banned. Instead of defending th <br />of responsible pet owners, many ordinances today are loaded with <br />forceable provisions that actually threaten an ownerÈs sense of <br />convert otherwise responsible citizens into scofflaws, driving t <br />ground for fear of being found in violation of the law. Worse, u <br />able statutes undermine confidence in the legal system and poiso <br />opinion against animal control. <br />Nevertheless, it appears as if some lawmakers believe that the b <br />efits produced by adding idealistic but unenforceable requiremen <br />mal control ordinances outweigh the negative consequences of dec <br />community support for animal control and loss of licensing reven <br />reality, unenforceable ordinances unite responsible pet owners, <br />irresponsible pet owners and non pet owners in their opposi- <br />tion to animal control. <br />At NAIA we consider this an unfortunate and totally <br />unnecessary outcome. Animal control agencies perform <br />important work that deserves the support of the communities <br />they serve. It is the purpose of the <br />NAIA Pet Friendly <br />to help pet owners and municipalities alike <br />Ordinance Project <br />begin to address the root cause of all these animal control <br />problems: specifically, ordinances that make adversaries out <br />of the public they serve. <br />Our research shows that to be successful, ordinances must <br />distinguish between responsible and irresponsible pet owners. <br />They must offer support and incentives to encourage and <br />reward responsible pet ownership; and they must enforce <br />reasonable penalties against irresponsible pet owners to bring <br />them into compliance. As a result of our research, NAIA <br />offers this ordinance concept to communities seeking answers <br />to animal control problems. The first of its kind, <br />this prototype <br />to be adapted to local and regional needs; <br />is intended as a conceptual guide <br />hence it can be used in whole or in part to redesign or amend an <br />trol ordinances. This model challenges many of the assumptions t <br />underlie failing animal control ordinances. <br />A word about pet limit laws and breed specific <br />restrictions <br />Number limits are commonly found in both zoning and animal <br />control ordinances, but they are ineffective at best and counter <br />at worst because they: <br />cause animal control agencies to lose potential license fees because pet <br />Ó <br />owners with multiple pets avoid licensing altogether for fear of being <br />[ 7 ] <br />found in noncompliance; <br />© National Animal Interest Alliance, March 2005 <br /> <br />