City delays change to animal ordinance

By Bobby Horn Jr.

Sun Editor

LINDEN—Linden City Council postponed a request to amend Animal Ordinance 95-1 and 06-14, which would have limited the number of dogs and cats which residents may keep as pets, as well as creating stricter kennel regulations.

Alderman Kenny Hamilton, in making the motion to ‘table’ the issue, said that the council needed time to study the matter before moving forward.

Gary Stevens presented the amendment to council. In his request, he asked that pet owners be restricted to no more than six dogs and cats. Stevens said that in drafting the proposal he contacted several local cities see what ordinances they had in place. By way of example, he said that Hughes Springs sets a limit at four animals.

“I would prefer four, but I think six is a good compromise,” Stevens said.

Stevens said that he brought the issue forward because he was concerned about not only the noise caused by dogs but sanitation as well. “I am concerned about the future of the community. I am open to changes and suggestions but I think it is very important to provide a framework for a change in the ordinance.”

Speaking during the public comment period, Vicky Henderson said she felt the amendment was written specifically because of her efforts to rescue stray dogs. She currently has six dogs. She said that she has spent thousands of dollars taking in strays, vaccinating them and taking care of them until a home can be found for them.

“I am willing to give them away,” she said. “I’m trying to do the best I can and I would be willing to do just about anything except kill them.”

She also questioned the reasoning for regulating the number of indoor cats a person can have.

Under the amendment language, the maximum number pets apply equally to those that live outside such as in a kennel or doghouse as well as “house pets.”

City Administrator Bob Swisher said that even if the amendment was adopted, the city council could provide exceptions or variances, on a case by case basis.

While the proposed amendment did not specifically address stray dogs, Swisher admitted this was a problem in the city. He noted that a dog control problem could derail Linden’s chance at receiving a “Texas Main Street” designation through the Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Main Street Program.

To address this problem, he said, the city is sending an employee to animal control school in February who would be able to pick up strays. While the city has no intention of building an animal shelter, Swisher did say that they are looking into constructing a five to six-dog kennel for temporary housing.

Swisher said that his research has shown that to build a kennel that would suit the needs of a town the size of Linden would be about $8,000. Additionally, the city would also have to locate a veterinarian who would be willing to inspect the property and assist the city as needed. He also said that an animal benevolence league, which was not a city department, would have to be created to oversee adoptions.

Swisher told council that he would present the cost for construction a six-dog kennel at their next meeting.