Fort Smith animal ordinance gets North Little Rock input

Fort Smith Police Chief Kevin Lindsey and some of his staff will soon travel to North Little Rock to review an animal control program that is similar to an ordinance pushed by some members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors.

Billy Grace, animal control director for the city of North Little Rock, met with the board during a Tuesday (April 26) study session to discuss a board ordinance approved March 15 but eventually tabled to gather more information.

Two of the four animal control ordinances approved March 15 — one relating to mandatory spay and neutering and one relating to clarification of definitions — required second and third readings because they failed to garner a 5-2 vote necessary to enact an emergency clause.

The ordinances approved were:
• Ordinance essentially abolishing the tethering of a dog to a stationary object;
• Ordinance enacting a mandatory pet registration, spay and neuter regulations and hobbyist permit for dogs and cats;
• Ordinance creating the Animal Services Advisory Board;
• Ordinance establishing new definitions for the purpose of interpreting the new rules and regulations.

Barring a change in direction by the board, the new rules were to go into effect Jan. 1, 2012.

The board tabled the mandatory pet registration and spay and neuter rules after hearing numerous complaints, including opposition from an organization of at least 20 Fort Smith veterinarians. The board voted 4-3 to table the second reading of the ordinance for six months.

Grace said the North Little Rock program is essentially a “spay or pay” program in which veterinarians in the area help the city sell licenses. The program also includes a “reclaim fee” of up to $300 for a third time in which an unlicensed pet is found and taken to a shelter. However, Grace said most, if not all financial penalties, are waived if the pet owner agrees to spay or neuter the pet. He said almost all pet owners cited for an unauthorized pet get the animal fixed.

“If you enforce it, it works,” Grace told the board. “It’s all about enforcement.”

Based on animal population figures, the program appears to work in North Little Rock. Grace said the dog population entering the shelter dropped from 2,658 in 1998 — ordinance adopted in 1999 — to around 1,800 now. A similar ordinance for cats was adopted in 2003, with the shelter population of cats falling from 1,808 in 2003 to 1,096 by 2006.

Grace explained various collaborate efforts between the city, veterinarians and citizens to enact and enforce the law, including a voucher program for citizens who can’t afford veterinarian services or licensing. He said the city has obtained grant funding to help with some aspects of the program.

“You have to make it where there are no losers,” he told the board.

Fort Smith board members’ debate Tuesday primarily focused on whether a license is required and the level of enforcement. Grace provided examples of possible solutions for several points raised during the debate.

Lindsey volunteered to take a few of his staff within the next 30 days to North Little Rock to review their animal control facilities and program.

“I think doing a site visit will provide a lot of clarity,” Lindsey told the board.

The board held open the possibility of Lindsey also working with Grace to revamp the ordinance to include practices that appear to be working in North Little Rock.