January 8, 2024 |
Photo – A slow loris is a surprisingly dangerous animal – Courtesy Daily Sabah
The city of Rawlins is loosening restrictions on its vicious animal ordinance.
At the January 2nd Rawlins city council meeting, Interim City Attorney Pinita Mayberry, of Slow and Steady Law Office, provided the council with an amended ordinance governing nuisance and vicious animals for first reading.
Per Wyoming law, ordinance changes require three readings at three separate public meetings before being adopted as law.
Attorney Mayberry said she worked with the Rawlins Police Department and Animal Control on the recommended amendments to the city’s vicious animal ordinance.
Attorney Mayberry said overall, she worked to reduce the punishments for a first-time violation of the city’s vicious animal ordinance. The interim city attorney also said she expanded the language of the ordinance to include more than just dogs.
Under the existing ordinance, after the first offense, a dog owner must immediately get their animal spayed or neutered, have a microchip implanted, and have photographs of their dog entered into a permanent animal control file. Attorney Mayberry said those punishments will be removed from the amended ordinance.
Attorney Mayberry said she is also discarding the requirement for an animal owner to obtain a $100,000 liability insurance policy on their dog after a first offense. The interim city attorney said the circumstances of a first conviction may not necessitate such a harsh punishment.
In its current form, after a first offense, the city’s vicious animal ordinance requires the animal’s owner to install a chain link fence kennel on a concrete pad if the dog is to spend time outdoors. Attorney Mayberry said the amended ordinance eliminates that requirement. The interim city attorney said not all residents live in a place where that type of construction is possible.
The city’s current vicious animal ordinance states that after a third offense, a judge shall order the destruction of the animal. Attorney Mayberry said her amended ordinance gives judges more say over how to handle subsequent cases against an animal and its owner. The interim city attorney said the Rawlins Police Department and Animal Control agree with her proposed changes.
The Rawlins city council had no further questions. The board voted to waive the first reading and approve the amended ordinance.
