Council to review dog regulations (Tucson, AZ)

[Rene Allegrini]

Finally, someone realizes that laws already on the books quite possibly would be better enforced with more money and man power given to animal control.


City Council to review dog regulations
West wants stricter leash-law enforcement
RYN GARGULINSKI, Tucson Citizen

Two unleashed pit bulls knocked over a woman while she was walking her dog, breaking her leg.

A tiny dog on a leash had an eye ripped out by a big dog not on a leash.

Both incidents happened in Tucson's McCormick Park, 2950 N. Columbus Blvd., which falls under the jurisdiction of Ward 2 Councilwoman Carol West.

Both incidents are also part of the reason West has put animal issues on the study session agenda of Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Leash laws, dog parks, animal cruelty and street-side pet sales are topics West hopes to cover.

While many of the issues are already covered by city ordinances and all fall under the jurisdiction of the Pima Animal Care Center, West said what's being done is not good enough.

"We throw a bone to the animal care center and tell them 'Take care of this,' " West said. "We pay them a pittance and tell them to do everything for us."

West wants to bring up the concept of having Tucson's City Council become more involved in animal issues.

Although leash laws are in place, West said, those who enforce them need help. "The police can't be everywhere," she said.

No ordinance exists for street-side animal sales.

"The last couple of days I've seen signs all over: Puppies for Sale, Kittens for Sale," West said. "We don't know who is buying those puppies and kittens."

She also said more guidelines are needed for the city's dog parks. One issue is a park's size.

"It has to be a fairly large space," she said.

Another is having a residents' group in each park that will work with the city to oversee the park and report problems..

While the agenda allots 15 minutes for the discussion, West said the topic is so broad that she expects it will take more time. It's a citywide issue and all wards are affected, she said.

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