Chattanooga City Council to take up new animal ordinance

ANIMAL PERMIT FEESUnder an ordinance to be considered today:• Animal performance permit fees would go from $200 to a range of $100 to $300• Animal dealer permit fees would remain $300• Kennel permit fees would change from $250 to $300• Breeders who sell two litters of puppies or kittens per household per year wouldn't have to get a permit• Restaurant permits to allow dogs in outdoor dining would remain a $50 annual fee.

A fowl-less animal control ordinance heads to the City Council today more than a year after officials killed a similar proposal.

Talk of urban chickens and then confusion over how the city planned to structure permits for pet dealers, kennel owners, rescuers and dog and cat breeders prompted officials to pull the ordinance last year and go back to the drawing board.

But today's ordinance is similar to what a group of residents appointed by former Mayor Ron Littlefield and overseen by former McKamey Animal Center Director Karen Walsh proposed. This time around, officials won't bring up the idea of Chattanooga residents legally raising hens on their property, and the city decided to keep the $50 restaurant fee to allow customers' dogs on patios, instead of raising the price to $100.

The intent of the ordinance is to give McKamey Animal Center the authority it needs to regulate the city's pet dealers, rescuers and kennel owners. The current law has been confusing and hard to monitor, said Councilman Moses Freeman, who will introduce the revised ordinance in his committee today.

"We inserted the whole question of chickens, therefore we never had any consideration [of the ordinance] other than chickens," Freeman said Monday. "There's very little or no change from what they had written previously, most of it a routine adoption of something that should have been done last year."

Earlier this summer, the city attorney's office said it had met with special interest groups such as veterinarians and animal enthusiasts to discuss how the city should regulate the pet industry.

The new permit structure will require all kennel owners, pet dealers and animal rescuers to apply for an annual permit by submitting an application. Then the city has the right to inspect the applicant's business to ensure the animals are well cared for and their paperwork is in order. While conducting an inspection, an officer has the right to impound an animal that is in immediate danger of death or serious harm.

Also anytime an animal performance group comes to Chattanooga, it will be required to apply for a one-time permit and be subject to an inspection.

The ordinance also gives the Animal Control Board the authority to hear appeals for anyone who is denied a permit.

Some of last year's criticism was over whether small hobby breeders should be required to get a permit and be subject to an inspection in their home. In response, the city changed the ordinance and now hobby breeders that sell two or fewer litters of puppies or kittens a year won't have to get a dealer permit.

The intent of the change was to provide a way for hobby breeders to sell their breed of dogs or cats and not be considered a dealer if they meet the city guidelines, said Animal Control Board Chairman Mike Mallen.

Contact staff writer Joy Lukachick at jlukachick@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.

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