MASON CITY – The Mason City council is considering a change to animal control ordinances that would allow a police officer to determine if a dog is dangerous or vicious and then impound the animal – cutting the court system out of the process – and eventually euthanize any animals whose owners make no appeal.
The council will meet this week for a work session to discuss the proposed changes to the ordinances. Mason City staff has proposed a number of changes, which the council will consider and discuss when it meets Tuesday at 5:00 PM at City Hall.
Under the proposed changes, a law enforcement officer would be able to declare a dog vicious and impound the animal, without a court order. If the owner makes no appeal, the animal would be euthanized. The appeals would be heard by the city administrator.
Other changes include clarifications for keeping livestock and beekeeping, as well as a reduction in certain zones for the allowable amount of rabbits and poultry that may be kept.
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