Abilene cracks down on animal safety with updated ordinance

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) –After months of debate and changes to the language and clauses, the Abilene City Council approved a new animal ordinance Thursday morning.

Owners will now be required to show proof of spay/neuter when getting their pet back from Abilene Animal Outreach, formerly known as animal control. City attorney Stanley Smith said owners may have to pay on the second offense.

“Second time the dog is picked up. Then the city of Abilene has the opportunity to sterilize that dog or sterilize it and charge that to the animal owner before they reclaim the reclaimed dog or cat,” Smith explained at the meeting.

City councilman Kyle McAlister addressed residents’ concerns at the meeting, stating they approved the clause with a clear understanding.

“This stuff happens. I would hope that we have, and I think we have the ability to kind of look at these things with some common sense. I think if dogs get out by no fault of their own, that we can have some common sense when it comes to stuff like this,” McAlister said.

The ordinance prohibits restraining dogs unattended outside with weights or chains. Smith mentioned that this will help keep animals safe.

“If they don’t have potable water or if they’re left in an area that their standing in water or exposed to excessive animal waste or they can’t get the shade or they don’t have otherwise adequate shelter, we have added those in there to make it more specific as to what restraining a dog in an unhealthy situation may be,” Smith said.

One of the biggest changes that sparked the initial conversation was a new clause that adds guidelines for aggressive dogs that attack other animals, making the investigation process similar to dogs that attack humans.

Many residents expressed their content feelings with a resolution finally reached after a strenuous back and forth with residents and the city.

Certain rules in the ordinance exclude service animals, show animals, and specialty-trained animals, including those for agriculture and first response.