March 28, 2024

Council looks to set new violation system for animal-at-large offenses

Repeat offenders who allow their animals to run at large could soon face a financial strain.

Osceola City Council set a public hearing Tuesday, May 17, for an amendment to the current animal at-large ordinance.

“(This) was setting an actual violation schedule in the ordinance rather than leaving it up to the courts to assign it as a way of trying to enforce this perhaps a little bit more aggressively when ticketed,” said Ty Wheeler, city administrator/clerk.

The animal-at-large ordinance currently states it is unlawful for any owner to allow an animal to run at large within the corporate limits of the city.

New section

The proposed amendment states “admitted violations imposed by this code of ordinances may be charged upon a simple notice of a fine payable at the office of the police department. The simple notice of a fine shall be in the amount of $50 for all first violations, $100 for all second violations and $150 for all subsequent violations thereafter.”

The idea behind the amendment is to curb repeat offenders who allow their pets to run at large.

“The majority of the phone calls I get are of the same dogs, the same people, over and over,” Councilman Doug Gay said.

Frequent violators

Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus said officers know who they deal with frequently on this matter and when it’s appropriate to give tickets.

“It is officers’ discretion,” Duffus said. “We understand that dogs get away from people, too. We get that. We have folks who have dogs that we’ve never had to chase, and we have folks whose dogs we chase on nearly a daily basis. I think we’re pretty adept at following through with the discretion.”