Parsons city commissioners on Tuesday approved changes to the city’s ordinance related to animals, including dogs. The change was sparked in part by a Parsons resident who complained early in August about a stray dog attacking and killing his smaller dog just feet from his front door. The ordinance requires a dog that’s bitten a person to be impounded and get a microchip implanted in it at the owner’s expense. The same treatment goes for any animal that attacks or wounds another domestic animal, but this is at the discretion of the animal control officer or police officer handling the call. The microchip requirement applies to any animal running at large at the time of a bite or attack. There is also an observation period until an owner can provide proof of vaccination. The ordinance requires animal owners to pay vet fees. “Failure to pay all vet fees and recover the animal by its owner within the three business days shall allow the animal to become the property of the city and it may be adopted, transferred to a duly incorporated humane society, or humanly euthanized. All impoundment costs shall be the responsibility of the dog owner and may be assessed as restitution in any criminal case involving said dog or collected by a civil lawsuit,” the ordinance reads. The ordinance makes it unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit it to run at large in the city at any time. An animal is at large when it is not inside a home, secure fence or pen, on a leash held by a person capable of controlling the animal or tethered to prevent it from getting into public rights of way or another’s property. If an at-large animal bites a person, the owner will have to pay a minimum fine of $500 in addition to other penalties allowed in the ordinance. If an at-large animal attacks or wounds another domestic animal, the owner will pay a minimum fine of $400 in addition to other applicable penalties.
Source: Parsons Sun
