Animal Ordinance Ready for Board Consideration (Raytown, Missouri)

[Rene Allegrini]

Article and link provided by fightBSL group:


Raytown Reporter - Editorial

Animal Control Ordinances
Ready for BOA Consideration

In June of this year Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters had a conversation at City Hall with Municipal Judge Tracy Fann and City Prosecutor Ross Nigro after one of their nighttime Court Sessions at Raytown City Hall. They told Walters that something had to be done about the dangerous animal situation in Raytown. They continued that the court was averaging one to two cases per docket.

With that information in hand Walters scheduled a discussion item before the Board of Aldermen to consider changes in Raytown's Animal Control Ordinances. The Mayor then appointed Aldermen Sandy Hartwell, Barb Schlapia and Walters to a Task Force to review the ordinance.

The Task Force has conducted eight meetings, spending over 16 hours studying and working on two ordinances for consideration by the Board of Aldermen. In the course of those meetings, over 80 people have attended to give testimony. The City's police department, animal control, municipal court, city attorney and the city administrator's office have participated in the meetings. As have two local veterinarians, local insurance agents and a representative from the city's insurance provided (MARCIT).

The list does not include the large amount of private correspondence with individuals who could not attend the meetings. But the broad band of participation is indicative of the amount of interest in improving Raytown's Animal Control Ordinances.

The Task Force has done an admirable job of drafting two ordinances. Both are designed to stand on their own merits.

The first ordinance addresses all dogs in general. The city's current "Dangerous Animal Ordinance" is contained within this document. The Task Force found it necessary to update outdated sections of that ordinance as well.

The highlights of the (all-inclusive) ordinance are:

1. A ban on breeding of all animals in residential areas.
2. Licensing of all warm-blooded pets in Raytown.
3. A section redefining adequate restraint to include that an animal must be confined by a "structure" when outside and not on a leash
4. A restructured fine system that does the following:
First offense* $125 fine, Second offense** $250 fine, Third offense $500 fine and removal from city limits.
5. Stray animals picked up by Animal Control are to be micro-chipped for identification purposes in case of future violations.

* The Animal Control Director is given authority to waive the fine on a first offense for animals that are licensed.
**Pet owners have the option of having $125 of their fine used to have their pet spayed or neutered.

The second ordinance, commonly known as Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), is similar to the first ordinance with the following exceptions.

1. Pit Bull breeds will be banned from the city upon passage of the ordinance.
2. Pit Bull breeds currently within the city limits are grand-fathered as long as they are licensed and micro-chipped for identification purposes.
3. The owner of a Pit Bull breed must be at least 21 years of age.
4. Pit Bull breeds must be on a leash and accompanied by its owner when outdoors. or kept in an escape proof structure.
5. Liability insurance is required for owners of Pit Bull breeds.

The two ordinances are scheduled to go before the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, November 21st.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: In 2006 there have been over 550 impoundments by Animal Control (to date) in Raytown. That is an average of two dogs per day.

[Rene Allegrini]

More on the ordinance in Raytown, Missouri. This info shared by Karen Perry and being passed along per request.


Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 11:47 AM

Subject: DOG ORDINANCE/BSL

‘PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ANYONE WHO THINK MAY BE INTERESTED.

THE RAYTOWN BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL BE HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 28TH, 7:00 P.M., COUNCIL CHAMBERS. AT THIS MEETING BOTH OF THE ORDINANCES WILL BE READ FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL GO OVER ALL THE DETAILS OF THEM AND THE BOARD AND PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO COMMENT.

CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED5 MINUTES EACH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD UNLESS THEY ARE REPRESENTING SOME TYPE OF GROUP OR ORGANIZATION AND THEN THE TIME LIMIT IS 10 MINUTES. THIS GIVES EVERYONE 2 WEEKS TO PREPARE.

I HAD A LENGTHY TALK WITH THE MAYOR LAST NIGHT AFTER THE MEETING AND SHE ENCOURAGES YOUR INPUT. WE BELIEVE THE ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE WILL PASS WITH NO PROBLEM. IT WILL HOWEVER PROBABLY HAVE SOME CHANGES MADE TO IT. (IN REVIEWING IT LAST NIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE WORDING HAS BEEN CHANGED TO ALLOW NO TETHERING AT ALL, FRONT OR BACK YARD). THIS MEANS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FENCED BACK YARD THE ONLY WAY YOUR DOG CAN GO OUT TO TAKE CAR OF BUSINESS IS ON THE END OF A LEASH. (THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY IN BAD WEATHER).

THE BSL ORDINANCE, IN MY OPINION, HAS 5 STRONG OPPONENTS, MYSELF, MARYLIN FLEMING, CHARLOTTE MELSON, PAT REIHLE AND JIM HAMILTON. WE KNOW GREG AND SANDY ARE FOR IT.......I THINK IT HINGES ON JOHN NESS, JIM AZIERE AND JODI SMITH. WORST CASE SCENARIO IT IS A TIE----THE ORDINANCE WOULD FAIL FOR LACK OF A MAJORITY OR THE MAYOR COULD VOTE NO AND CAUSE IT TO FAIL..... SUE APPRECIATES ALL THE INFORMATION THAT SHE HAS GOTTEN AND I CAN ASSURE YOU SHE IS OPPOSED TO BSL.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE ISSUES.’

BARB SCHLAPIA

356-3966