Abilene City Council to revisit animal ordinance, may scrap spay/neuter mandate

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — The Abilene City Council is revisiting updates to the animal ordinance and making adjustments and corrections, potentially dropping the proposed requirement that all dogs and cats be spayed or neutered.

On Thursday, March 13, the council will review amendments to Chapter 6, Animals and Fowl, of the Abilene Code of Ordinances. Key changes since the first reading include:

• Removing the show animal permit from the Breeders Permit section
• Eliminating the mandatory spaying/neutering requirement for all dogs and cats
• Exempting special-purpose dog breeding from restrictions

The council will also consider introducing a commercial breeder permit fee, with a proposed cost of $150 for a two-year permit.

Other proposed updates include:

• Renaming the Abilene Animal Control Department to Abilene Animal Outreach.
• Banning the sale of animals in public places and requiring landowner permission for sales on private property, including parking lots.
• Creating a Commercial Breeder’s Permit to regulate dog and cat breeding within city limits.
• Introducing an “Aggressive Dog” category for dogs that make unprovoked attacks on domestic animals, resulting in injury or death.
• Pet owners must provide proof of sterilization within 30 days of reclaiming their animal from the Pet Adoption and Resource Center (PARC).