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Home My WebLink AboutIR 8519 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8519 Date: Aug. 19, 2003 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 1 of 3 SUBJECT: Animal Cruelty Ordinance Provision Background This informal report is in response to a request made during the August 7 meeting from council for information regarding the provision of shade for animals and to provide benchmarking on other cities ordinances. Also, there was a question regarding animal control response time, which will be addressed in this report. Provision of Shade for Animals/Care of Animals There is a provision in the current City of Fort Worth ordinance that addresses the proper care of animals. That provision is found under Chapter 6, Section 6-65. The ordinance states that a pet owner or other person in control of an animal under his care shall provide the animal with the following: a) Sufficient nutritious and wholesome food, served to the animal in clean containers, to maintain the Animal in good health b) Clean and wholesome water, served to the animal in a clean container, such water to be available to the animal at all times c) Adequate shelter and protection from the weather at all times d) Veterinary care as needed to prevent suffering Both the Animal Care and Control Division and the Humane Society of North Texas investigate animal cruelty complaints. The Humane Society investigates most of the cruelty/neglect animal cases in the City of Fort Worth. The society has a full time investigator. And, in most cases is able to assist the violator in complying with the municipal code or state animal cruelty laws. The State cruelty statue, Section 42.09 (2) states that a person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody. Staff has conducted a benchmarking study of animal welfare ordinances (See Attachment 1) and a comparison of kennels policies that define adequate shelter among Texas municipalities (See Attachment 2). We have concluded that the current ordinance and policy are sufficient. There are no written guidelines defining privately owned kennel runs. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8519 Date: Aug. 19, 2003 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 3 SUBJECT: Animal Cruelty Ordinance Provision Animal Response to Requests for Service The Animal Care and Control Division responds during the workday to requests for service from citizens based on a priority system (See below). The division impounds loose and sick animals whenever possible. Cats must be confined in a trap or box unless they are so ill that they cannot run away. In the FY2002, the division has responded to 35,577 requests for service and impounded 20,085 animals. This number includes 11,992 dogs, 6,184 cats and 2,509 other animals. Priority response standards provide a guideline to assist staff when several calls are pending. All calls are a priority, at some level, because a citizen of the City of Fort Worth took the time to call the Animal Care and Control Division in need of service or help. Priority list of service response standards Priority 1: Calls regarding dangerous animals, bites, police requests, injured animals. Requires an immediate response. Priority 2: Calls regarding captured animals, action center, CMO or other management calls, and animals caught in traps. Requires a response within 4 hours. Priority 3: Calls regarding animals running at large with known owner or at a specific address, barking dog calls, calls when the complainant is known, and owner releases. Requires a response within 8 hours after all Priority 1 calls and while in route to Priority 2 calls. Priority 4: Calls regarding location calls on strays. Requires a response throughout the workday as time permits. Priority 5: Calls regarding delivery of traps. Requires a response within 72 hours. (Staff delivers dog traps due to the size of-the traps. Cat traps are only delivered to those citizens who indicate they are unable to pick up a trap due to health conditions.) Unlike the Police and Fire Departments, the Animal Care and Control Division does not have the resources to purchase the system that helps them determine response time. Staff has in the past established response time manually. Since this is labor intensive and requests for services have increased tremendously in -the past 2 years, we have not been able to manually calculate response time for each call. A recent Human Resources study indicated that the current ratio of Fort Worth Animal Control Officers to square miles is one (1) officer per 59 square miles. The recommended national standard is one (1) per 25 square miles. In addition the National Animal Control Association and Colorado 'inicipal League study recommend a ratio of one (1) Animal Control Officer for every 18,000 ..izens. Based on this recommendation the City of Fort Worth should have 31 Animal Control Field ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8519 Date: Aug. 19, 2003 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 3 of 3 SUBJECT: Animal Cruelty Ordinance Provision Officers. The City of Fort Worth has 14 Animal Control Field Officers and 3 Education Outreach Officers. CONCLUSION In summary, the Fort Worth ordinance and policy regarding adequate shelter are in line with surrounding municipalities. More stringent requirements would stretch the thinly staffed Animal Control division beyond its capabilities as currently funded. No further action is recommended at this time. Please direct any further questions to Libby Watson or Dan Reimer, Y W. J ON '` `'Y MANAGER ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, 8/1912003 SUBJECT: Animal Cruelty Ordinance Provision Attachment 1 city Code Arlington "Care and Humane Treatment of Animals: (A) A person commits an offense if he fails to provide an animal with sufficient good and wholesome food or water, adequate housing consisting of a three-sided structure with a cover or roof, shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and with humane care and treatment...." Amarillo "It is unlawful and a violation of this article to cruelly treat an animal, as defined in Texas Penal Code 42.09." Austin None; relies on Texas Penal Code Dallas "Provide shelter that would keep the animal reasonable clean, dry, and comfortable." El Paso None; relies on Texas Penal Code Fort Worth "Every owner or other person having care and control of any animal shall provide the following for each animal...: (a) Sufficient nutritious and wholesome food, served to the animal in clean containers, to maintain the animal in good health; (b) Clean and wholesome water, served to the animal in a clean container, such water to be available to the animal at all times; (c) Adequate shelter and protection from the weather at all times; and (d) Veterinary care as needed to prevent suffering." rand Prairie None; relies on Texas Penal Code ell ouston None; relies on Texas Penal Code; some regulations associated with kennel licensing for large kennels Irving "Shelter means any structure that will shield an animal from the direct rays of the sun or direct exposure to wind from the north when the temperature is below fifty 50 degrees Fahrenheit." Lubbock "Animals shall be cared for, treated and transported in a humane manner and not in violation of Section 42.11 of the Texas Penal Code... In addition, a person commits an offense if:...(9) A person fails to provide his animal with adequate wholesome food and water, proper shelter and protection from inclement weather and veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering;..." Mesquite None; relies on Texas Penal Code North Richland "PROVIDE CARE: No owner shall fail to provide an animal in his/her care with Hills sufficient good and wholesome food and water, adequate housing consisting of a three sided structure with a cover or roof, shelter and protection from weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and with humane care and treatment." San Antonio None; relies on Texas Penal Code Texas Penal Code"A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly:...(2) fails 42.09 unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;..." t h INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, 8/19/2003 SUBJECT: Animal Cruelty Ordinance Provision Attachment 2 J e. Amarillo Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, Dog House form of restraint and get out of Sufficient waste Arlington Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, 3-sides, top and form of restraint and get out of bottom, dog house waste sufficient Austin Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, Dog House form of restraint and get out of Sufficient waste Dallas Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, Dog House form of restraint and get out of Sufficient waste El Paso Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, Dog House form of restraint and get out of Sufficient waste Fort Worth Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, Dog House form of restraint and get out of Sufficient waste Grand Prairie Recognized as a 5' x 8' minimum, Dog House form of restraint stand up, sit down, Sufficient and get out of waste Harris County Recognized as a 4 times dog size Dog House form of restraint Sufficient Irving Recognized as a 6' x 4' minimum, Dog House form of restraint stand up, sit down, Sufficient and get out of waste Mesquite Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, 3-sides, top and form of restraint and get out of bottom, dog house waste sufficient North Richland Recognized as a 6' x 5' x12' Dog House Hills form of restraint minimum, stand up, Sufficient sit down, and get out of waste San Antonio Recognized as a Stand-up, sit down, Dog House form of restraint and get out of Sufficient waste