Jasper clarifies pet ordinance

The City of Jasper approved changes to the ordinance regulating domesticated animals in the city during last night’s common council meeting.

City Attorney Renee Kabrick told the council that during a review of the ordinance, her department had determined some aspects of it needed to be better clarified.

“It better defines what is allowed,” she explained about the changes.

As an example, she listed the new wording regarding kennels. A property-owner in the City of Jasper is only allowed to have four animals of any kind.

“We get many, many calls about that,” she said. “The language previously was not clear about that and now it is very clear. It doesn’t make any difference whether they are the same kind or different kinds; four animals.”

She further stated it clarified how many animals could be housed in multifamily dwellings. Only two per unit but the ordinance does not supersede the lease agreement if animals are not allowed.

“We have always enforced a four-animal limit,” Kabrick added.

That limit does not include animals under the age of four months.

Previously, the ordinance stated animals would be held for three days before being sold or destroyed. The language seemed to indicate that the city had to hold the animal for three days regardless of when the proper owner attempted to reclaim it. That section has been updated to read that the animal will be held for no longer than three days before it can be sold or “humanely disposed of”.

The city has a good partnership with the Dubois County Humane Society in finding homes for strays that are picked up. Typically, if an officer or street department employee catches a stray animal, they are kept at the street department until being picked up by the owner or turned over to the humane society.

Kabrick stated the ordinance still allows the city the option to euthanize an animal that cannot be adopted or sold for safety or health reasons but she explained she was only able to find one instance in which that had actually occurred.

The council approved the ordinance with an amendment to some of the language that restricted the city’s actions in certain cases.

Here is the new ordinance approved Wednesday night.

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