City Collector Lynne Huff said that in 2011, only 19 individuals
in the city acquired licenses for their dogs. The figure for cats
is worse – zero.
I just dont think people want to pay or take the time to come
down to city hall, Huff told The Missourian. They dont want to
spend the money and dont want to do the things necessary to
register them.
So far in 2012, through January, only one pet has been licensed,
Huff said.
According to Chapter 5, animals and fowl, in St. Clairs code of
ordinances, It shall be unlawful for any person in the city to
own, keep or harbor any cat or dog on or about his or her premises
unless the dog or cat is registered as provided in this
division.
And, the ordinance goes on to state that before the pet can be
registered, a valid receipt must be presented showing the animal
has been vaccinated for hydrophobia.
Owners do have to have proof of shots for rabies, Huff said.
Im sure that keeps some people away.
Fees to obtain a city pet license are $20 for the initial
registration for a dog or cat that is not spayed or neutered and $5
for one that is. After that, the annual cost is $5 for unspayed or
unneutered animals and $1 for those spayed or neutered.
Its not expensive, Huff said. But it is required by city
ordinance.
The ordinance goes on to say that it also is illegal to have a
dog or cat in the city that has not been inoculated for rabies, and
that any such pet found in the city without a proper registration
tag will be declared a nuisance and will be impounded. If an
impounded dog or cat is not claimed within three days by its owner
or others having an interest in the animal, it can be
destroyed.
The regulations also state that every dog or cat impounded under
the provisions of the ordinance can be picked up by the owner by
paying a $10 fee for each day the animal is impounded. The pet then
will be released upon proper registration with the city.
At-large animals picked up are taken to the Franklin County
Humane Society in Union.
Thats another reason to get the dog or cat licensed, Huff
said. If it is found somewhere, we will have a record of who it
belongs to and we can notify them. Otherwise, we wouldnt know and
the owner may never get them back.
Its not that the city wants to make money on this. We dont.
Its a way to help keep track of pets in the city.
Animals at Large
The citys code of ordinances also states that it is unlawful
for any individual in the city to allow a dog or cat to run
through or across the yards, gardens or private property of
another, and all persons in the city shall confine his dog or cat
by leash, chain or proper fencing.
Punishment calls for a $15 fine for a first-time offender plus
any court costs, $30 plus court costs for a second offense and $60
for a third or any additional offense plus court costs. In
addition, the same impoundment rules apply.
For more information, contact Huff at city hall at
636-629-0333.
Statistics
If St. Clair is a typical snapshot of the United States, then
about 1,200 households in the city have a cat or dog.
If only 19 dogs were registered last year, that means only about
1.5 percent of those households had the proper paperwork filed with
the city.
According to 2010 US Census information, St. Clair has 1,908
occupied households. Information from the American Pet Products
Association states that 63 percent of American households – which
computes to the 1,200 number in St. Clair – have a canine or
feline.
In addition, the Humane Society of the United States reported
through its 2011-2012 survey that 28 percent of US households own
at least two dogs while about 17 percent have at least two
cats.
Enforcement
Statistics from the St. Clair Police Department showed that 79
animal-at-large reports were generated in 2011, 74 were made in
2010, 56 in 2009 and 50 in 2008. As far as animals not inoculated,
the report numbers were seven, two, seven and three, respectively.
And, reports about animals not being registered total 12 in 2011,
three in 2010, six in 2009 and eight in 2008.
However, the numbers are low because the local authorities do
not have time to spend chasing animals or checking them for
licenses throughout the city, Chief Bill Hammack said. The city
also does not have an animal control officer, a position that
Hammack said was cut several years ago.
If we get a call, well respond to a dog at large, he told The
Missourian. If we know whose it is, well try to contact them. If
we dont know whose it is, well take it to the humane
society.
The chief said a citation or warning will be issued if the owner
is found.
As far as cats, Hammack said usually they are not chased if
found running loose. However, he said a live cat trap can be picked
up at city hall for residents to use. They require a deposit to
make sure they are returned.
If the trap captures a stray cat, the animal will be treated the
same way as a dog, Hammack said.