All right, I'm gonna go ahead and call our final pre-council of 2025 to order.

December December 15th, 2025.

We have one item on the agenda and an opportunity for if there are other items that council wants to discuss.

So our one and only agenda is from our Board of Health, Public Health and Human Services Department.

Updates to Chapter 5, Animals and Fowl.

So Rebecca Roslin, I'm gonna kick this over to you.

Okay, thank you.

Dr.

Tom Rose, who is a member of the Board of Health will be here shortly to walk through the presentation.

Just to just a reminder to council.

We came to count the Board of Health came to council at the end of last year asking for counsel's direction to review chapter five animals and fowl.

That request was initially came about because we had had an individual come to council who had more than four cats, which are currently allowed in chapter five, and there's not a provision in chapter five allowing the health department director to grant any type of variance as there are in other sections.

I I can give a variance for livestock in the city limits, but not for five cats.

So and then upon looking further into chapter five, there were some other things that staff recommended the Board of Health look at and consider updating.

So the process, uh, we started this in January.

We looked through the ordinance, um, our animal control supervisor who's behind me, Kevin Myers, he really um marked through the items that have been issues over the years and then as from his perspective.

And we identified that there were going to be four topics that we felt the community was going to be most invested in giving input on.

And so we intentionally separated those out into four separate meetings.

So it would be noted on the agenda that this was the topic we were going to be covering.

We promoted that on Be Heard as well as our social media so that individuals that were very passionate about that particular topic would be aware that that was the time that they could come and speak.

Although, of course, they could come and speak at any time on any topic.

So just for your awareness, those four things were changes to the feral cat ordinance, um, the vicious and nuisance dog hearings, which we'll talk about that more, and some changes to tethering requirements in the city.

And then the fourth one was of course the number of dogs and cats that could be allowed in any one household.

So tonight's presentation, we've got the PowerPoint, which is a high level overview, and then we shared with everybody the edited or the marked up chapter five.

This has been reviewed by legal as well.

So we can talk about any questions you might have in the full edited, um, but the we're gonna hit the main highlights with the PowerPoint, and then each slide has the page number for this document that corresponds to those recommended edits.

Um any questions on that before we get started or on the process or anything.

No, I appreciate the detail process and community engagement.

Thanks, Melinda.

Go back.

Yeah.

Okay, so as we walk through this, there are some definitions that we just change throughout the document.

They're very minimal in impact.

For example, Columbia Police Department's dogs are mentioned multiple times.

We just changed that to law enforcement.

In case it's a highly patrol dog or MUPD had a dog.

Um, we also changed citizen to person every place that you see that, just so there's no question about that use of language, other minor changes you'll see throughout.

So the first one.

So on page one of your definitions, is this close enough to my mouth?

Yep.

Okay.

Am I screaming?

Yeah, okay.

Sometimes people use the microphone, you still can't even hear them.

So if you sit back, it will be too far.

It will be too far.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, so page one on the definitions under uh dangerous or aggressive animal advisory.

So this is something we're gonna talk about a little further down the road.

Um the county has a process for a dangerous and aggressive animal advisory board and where you can request a hearing.

So anytime we can align city processes with counties processes, we really try to do so because as a city-county department, that can be a little tricky for us and for residents who are like, I don't understand this was fine two years ago when I lived in the county, and now it's not fine.

So farther uh later on, we're going to talk about the possible addition of a hearing process where if your animal is deemed to be vicious in the city of Columbia and you disagree with that, you can request a hearing.

The county has an existing process.

So that's why we needed to add this definition on page one.

Okay, and then we updated the definition of feral cat colonies on page two.

And the definition of feral cat colony would now be any number of five or more feral cats being cared for at a single location.

Health official, we added a health official definition that allows it to be myself or any other person appointed by the director of the health department, so then another staff member could fill in in my absence.

Okay, page three.

So this is section 5.3 disposition of animals biting or attacking persons.

So there are occasions when it is in the best interest of everyone for an impounded animal to be impounded at the residence versus the humane society or the vet.

So whenever there is an animal bite, and Kevin, step in if I get this wrong.

Yeah, would you mind?

We'll pull up a chair for Dr.

Rose when he shows up.

Again, Kevin Myers is our animal control supervisor.

Hi there.

Hi.

So whenever there's an animal bite, for example, and the animal is not current on its rabies vaccination, it has to be impounded for a period of 10 days.

And the reason for that is at the end of 10 days, animal control will lay eyes on the animal and see if it is alive, in which case we're probably fine, or if it's deceased, then we really are going to be quite worried about rabies.

Is that pretty accurate?

Yeah.

So on occasion, it's really difficult for the animal to be um I uh placed outside of its residence for those 10 days.

It could be that the Humane Society runs or full, it could be that the animal is very old or has other behavioral issues that would make it either unkind or unsafe to force the animal to be impounded at the humane society.

Sometimes people try to impound at their vet's office, but not all veterinarians' offices will allow for that.

Um we'll finish this slide up, Dr.

Rose, and then we'll have you hop in.

Sorry for being late.

That's okay.

You had animals to take care of.

So then um, the other thing that we really wanted to add in here was information about at um obtaining a city license.

So um, Kevin, do you want to speak about that part?

Yeah, the ordinances currently say that you have to have a license for your dog at the time of the bite, otherwise, it has to be impounded for that quarantine period with us or a vet.

Um, so uh what Rebecca didn't mention is that there are fees associated with impounding a dog with us for 10 days, so it's 20 dollars a day boarding fee.

Um, so people are racking up 200 fees and they're not wanting to pick up their dogs at the end of that quarantine because it's a large amount of money.

Um so that's one more reason we'd like for them to be able to quarantine at home.

Um, but getting that license, a lot of people unfortunately don't know that there's a licensing law until they interact with us.

So most people do not have a license at the time their dog was to bite someone, and that may just be somebody that came over to visit the family for whatever reason.

So being able to obtain one as long as they have a current rabies shop, they can get the license because that's required to get the license.

So maybe yeah, our goal is is really not to have an individual have a lot of fees from boarding, it's to get rabies that animals are fully vaccinated and that they're current on their city license.

That's our end goal.

Um questions about that board, yeah.

So someone's a microphone.

Oh fine.

If someone has the dog and how is it full?

How do we how do we know that they're keeping that dog inside?

It is a little bit of an honor system.

Okay, yeah.

They are given those strict quarantine instructions, but we can't keep eyes on them the whole time.

If an animal were to bite after that happens, there's some sort of it'll be for them.

Yeah, so um, if it bites during the quarantine A, it extends that quarantine to the next 10 days from that day to that bite.

Um, but at that point the dog is established a history of biting and the ordinances already have written into them that if the dog has a history of biting, it has to be quarantined with a vet or with us.

Okay.

Do you want us to continue, Dr.

Rose?

And you may continue.

Okay.

Well okay.

Um section five-six on page five.

Um, this is the section that speaks to changes for when an animal is tethered.

So the logic to this is that there are certain things in ordinance that are required if you um keep your animal contained in a fenced in yard.

You have to have adequate food, water, and shelter, and provided health care.

That same language was not included if you're tethering your animal outside.

And so this would be adding those same requirements if your animal is tethered for an extended period of time.

I thought I thought we had an ordinance saying you could not tether an animal outside for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Yeah, I think I think we're what we're specifically wanting to add is um something that says you can't tether an animal out during inclement weather warning or advisory issued by the National Weather Service without providing the adequate provisions, which include that shelter.

So we it is in there, it is that is already in the ordinance.

And we get to the weather part later.

Yeah.

I what the point you're talking about, but it sounds like you're also saying that they can leave them tethered outside for prolonged periods of time as long as they have shelter for them, but so aren't these confusing?

Well, we wouldn't want to get rid of that that particular one.

We want to add one specifically for um maintain or putting them out in severe weather because right now they can be out in severe weather with that stuff.

Um I guess I'm not really explaining it very well.

I think she's asking about in particular to tethering.

There are limitations.

You're asking about aren't there already limitations in active tethering?

Specifically recall reading that section, but um the second just refers to tethering the dog outside.

It has to be under direct supervision.

I don't know that there was a 30 minute okay or what that is.

Yes, or 30 minutes, unless it has been provided with all those.

Like category.

You put them out there for 30 minutes without necessarily reproofing water sacrifices or something, which that's okay.

But if you're going beyond 30 minutes, it's six.

That was already in there if you hadn't provided something.

What was that other intent here?

Thanks.

Oh, yeah, that's what we have to came up with.

So this was really what this one was.

Yeah, okay.

Specifically adding basically what's defining what adequate care.

No, no, no, no, that's my mistake.

I was getting lost in the verbiage.

I believe 5-6B is adding a definition of animal neglect.

Previously, we had a definition of animal abuse.

This is adding one specifically to animal neglect.

I got a little ahead of myself with the tethering because it's in the title of this section.

Okay, thanks.

Sorry for that.

Okay.

Here's the severe weather one on page six.

So this is adding the section about tethering outside during inclement weather warning or advisory without providing adequate um shelter and care.

Oh, and the board had a very long conversation about this, and this again was really wanting to make sure that things all things were being equal.

If you have your animal tethered outside during a blizzard versus if it's outside um during a blizzard and your fenced in yard, that the animal have the same ability, same uh level of service, yes.

This um this had been in ordinance longer than any of us had worked at the health department, and I don't know that it was something that ever actually happened, and it was a section that required pet stores to collect signed health risk acknowledgement from reptile buyers.

So our recommend the recommendation of the board is to delete that section from chapter five.

Yeah, it's five-11 specifically.

Yeah, I think it might be nine for everybody else, but five-11 sale of reptiles.

Yeah, I'll just point out the cheese that were just handed to you are off by a page in case you haven't figured that out.

So don't go on their page numbers unless you're looking at your eye pass.

But we're gonna go for sections.

Okay, yeah, just read the section.

I can do that.

Okay, so the next one is section five-57, dangerous or aggressive animals.

So you're gonna see a lot of blue on this one.

So this and all that Kevin talked about what the process is that the county uses and a little bit of why we the board feels it would be beneficial to add this to the city process.

Yeah, so currently um if a dog is declared either vicious or nuisance in the county, um, we would first have an investigation.

We would maybe first issue a warning to the owner of the dog in the county um for whatever it may be.

If we get further complaints, then we would go about just classifying the dog as vicious or nuisance, it's different in the county.

Um and that would entail basically writing up a statement, giving it to the director of the health department, Rebecca.

She would say yes or no, that we should go ahead and move forward with classifying that dog as such.

Um, and then we would give paperwork to the owner, letting them know their dog has been declared either vicious or nuisance, and then they would have time to comply with that, or they would have time to request a hearing in front of the director and the vicious nuisance dog advisory board to contest that classification.

Um, and then they would get a chance to give some kind of testimony and evidence in their favor, and then anybody who has an issue with this dog's behavior would have time to give their story as well.

Um, in the city, it's basically all done through the courts.

So if somebody's dog is declared dangerous and aggressive, um, or the cat, it could be a cat in the city, it could be any number of animals.

Um, then at that point we would issue a citation and we would have to remove their dog and then wait for it to be adjudicated in court.

And most of the time, the court is just hearing that charge.

So they're being charged with owning a dangerous aggressive animal and not complying with the ordinance for owning one.

They don't want to hear my dog's not dangerous aggressive, that's why I'm not complying with the ordinance.

They they want to the person with the dog wants to have basically a trial over the whether their dog should be classified that way.

So in this case, we want to change the ordinances to match that county, so we actually have that process in place before we're we start issuing citations.

I'll get a microphone.

Um this goes to a question I had right away, but I'll just go ahead and ask it here.

We keep making reference to county and city.

So there are two different animal control systems in place, even though animal control for the city falls under BHS, right?

Correct.

Is there any possibility we can combine those to move?

So there are some really significant differences.

Okay.

Um, so there's no letter.

There might be some different things related to animal control.

So the main difference in the county is there's what's called service areas versus non-service areas, and those service areas have been designated to have certain ordinances in place that the non-service areas don't.

So a dog can technically run loose in a non-service area, whereas it can't in the service areas, which are mainly just around Columbia and outlying cities.

We're just looking to align these things.

Yeah, yeah, make them.

I mean, I think it's important to remember we are an urban area, so yeah, the county.

I think ours should be more strict because we have more density of population.

So this process, I will say I think it works really well for county residents.

Um there have been a case.

So basically at the time of the hearing, the advisory board is assembled and individuals come up and they give the victims can give test pneumony if they wish, the owner of the animal can.

Um, they can provide any inform any additional information that they wish to.

The animal control officer always gives an update on what the circumstances were.

Um, I think historically there have been a handful of cases that the health department director has said, you know what?

I don't think this dog meets the definition of dangerous.

So we're not gonna, we're gonna um change the plan here.

The majority other times they're upheld because animal control is already walked through with their own processes.

Does this animal meet the definition?

Um I think from um the court's perspective, because Kevin's had a lot of conversations with them.

They there really is not a system in place in the city for you to say, no, Peaches is a sweetheart, she just wasn't feeling well that day, and this is really unusual.

So they would they would welcome this process with the city.

The one thing I'll ask on this one, and I imagine I think we probably would have to be more clear on this one.

I don't think we can use a county commissioner appointed advisory board.

Not to say that we as a city can't appoint the same people to a state of Columbia one, but just thinking about what the process is for that.

Um maybe maybe I feel like I would trust staff in figuring out what is that clarification, because I feel like you all would know who is an adequate eligible person to theme that.

Who is on the county?

Dr.

Dr.

Rose.

We've already put you on ours, yeah.

Right.

So I think we have we have a do you guys know Andy?

Dog uh instructor and people that are familiar with dogs and animals that are on there because we usually have thin.

Uh there's a county board.

I could see it being a city county appointed.

There's maybe four members on.

Yeah.

Uh two others.

So and there's not a quorum required for that board to meet.

Um, and there is a very specific time parameters that those hearings have to be held within if the owner requests a hearing.

So is it how many days?

10 days, five days.

The owner has to request hearings there, not every states animal that is the fish is going to happen here.

So they have to request a hearing.

And I have to tell you many times more than that, we find it as a human problem than an animal problem.

So you have to deal with it.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Any other questions on that?

Okay, section five-60 limitation upon number of dogs and cats kept.

So as a reminder, the current city ordinance is four is the maximum, except for puppies under the age of six months.

Correct.

And that is a combination of four.

So three dogs and one cat, whatever combination it is.

It's not four cats and four dogs.

So we the the board spent a lot of time really being very thoughtful about how could we possibly make this work in the city without being in a situation where individuals are collecting animals that they may not be able to provide adequate care for.

One thing to keep in mind as we talk about this section in particular is that animal control is a complaint-driven model.

So we only know if somebody has more than four, if there's been a complaint from a community member or a neighbor.

So typically, if this is if we're aware of this, it's because someone had a complaint about sound odor, um, dogs outside all hours of the night.

There's been a reason why we're aware of this.

Um, the only exception to that might be oftentimes they go, they're asked to come, there's a medical call, um, an ambulance has to come, or if law enforcement is involved and someone needs to contain the animals sometimes on occasion, then they're made aware that or the uh off neighbor who really hates their neighbor and has to find something they don't like about so um we've added a lot to this section.

So if the board's recommendation is that if the city council were to change this to allow for a multiple pet permit, it have some pretty clear parameters.

Um is that individuals would have to apply.

They have to list certain things on the application, including their information.

Um, they need to provide proof of a rabies vaccination, city license, microchip, and that the animals be sterilized.

And again, we're not trying to increase the pet population here.

Um they have to comply with any reasonable request from animal control to inspect the premises where the animals are being contained.

And if they are not the owner of the property, they need written permission of the owner.

So that really speaks to we need to make sure that we won't end up in a tenant landlord situation where now somebody's being evicted because we've given them a multiple pet permit and their landlord was not in or was not in agreement with that.

We don't want to end up in a situation where animals are stacked on top.

I mean, we we're not okay with anything that's going to be neglectful or unkind to the animals.

So we we're very mindful of what's an adequate amount of space for that many dogs or cats.

And then the permit is only for that person, it's not transferable, it's for those specific animals.

So if you have a permit, it if you if one dog passes away, it does not allow you to just put another dog in its place.

Like you would need to update a permit or request a different new permit, and all these things would would happen again, and that the permits can be revoked at any time if the situation warrants.

Um we've also added a or recommended a annual permit fee of $50 for each animal over the limit of the section.

Yeah.

I I remember the circumstances that led to this of the person who came before counsel and an appeal regarding their cats.

Um this is the kind of situation in which this would be applied.

Um do you have any other guidelines for that?

Or it or is it really just sort of or that situation or when else it might be applied?

Yeah, I mean, is it really just kind of discretionary, or is there there?

Is there any further definition about circumstances under which this kind of we did provided?

Well, it's almost always going to be the situation Kevin and his team come upon a lot is that a situation may have gotten out of an owner's control, and now they have seven dogs, three of which belong to their son who's unable to come and get them.

So we hear these this a lot with families and neighbors, and this is my dad's dog, he's in the hospital, but he's going to be out soon, and I'm just watching it.

And so our goal is not to put more animals at the Humane Society and have them linger there indefinitely waiting to be adopted.

So we really weigh in that circumstance.

Are they taking adequate care of the animal?

Can they afford its medical care?

But then again, something has happened that has even brought this situation to Kevin's awareness.

So those animals have been barking or they're running loose, like there's been some type of complaint, or we don't even know about them.

Um, we're not thinking that this is going to become a situation where I have my four, but now I really want to get a fifth.

So I'm gonna call the city first and see if I can.

I think that would be highly unusual.

I think most of it is going to be in response to we've received a complaint, we're aware that you have the more than four.

Can is there a path forward here that might allow you to stay with your animals and by the way?

But there is a lot of a great deal of discretion sounds like to be in terms of making it making the decision as to whether or not there is, because if every one we still need to be respectful of the neighboring property owners and whomever it is that issued the complaint in the first place.

So if every one of the neighbors has called with a complaint, we're not likely to issue that permit.

Um circumstances like that we would have to think about very carefully.

If the animals have not have been medically neglected in any way, we would not be issuing a permit.

Um, can you think of other occasions?

Our goal is not for people to have 10 dogs.

We want four is it is a healthy number is a number of individuals can afford.

It does not create a lot of nuisance for the neighbors.

We don't get a lot of calls about we we do not get calls about well-meaning animal owners who are taking good care of their animals and stay at four or less.

Yeah, I would say the big thing is you know, so many people have like five dogs, and they can take very good care of all five of those dogs with no problem, but they're in a situation now where we have to give them time to rehome their animal, and how do they pick between those more of those five dogs?

So I know you said that right now it's very complaint driven.

It sounds like this permit process would become a little more like when someone when a situation occurs where suddenly you are taking in your son's two dogs.

You could go through the permit process before there is a complaint.

Would that be accurate?

Or would the permit process still happen after a complaint?

No, that would be accurate.

It's just historically you don't see a lot of folks looking through ordinance and trying to figure out all the ways they can do it right and doing it right in advance.

Because I I will say one, you know, not necessarily complaint driven, but where I have seen this happen before stories that I have heard will be someone with three cats marries someone with two dogs, and they would like to live together, but are now against city ordinance.

Um having an option like this where they could proactively say we're gonna do this the correct way would prevent a complaint from coming across your desk.

It's possible.

Again, though, you let's say that in that scenario, then now the cats are screaming all night and the neighbors are complaining, then we're right back with.

We also need to be respectful of the neighboring property owners who I mean when you live in the city, you don't expect to have a lot of animal issues.

Um, and so it yeah, we could still end up back where we started, but for the most part, yes.

Well, and I'm am I understanding this correctly?

The first the first part of that.

So Bre, yeah, your expected like implementation of this is probably starts with a complaint.

Like to your point, most typically people are not proactively reading artwork to figure out.

No, would that be nice?

Yes.

So I'm assuming what are you thinking that is like for you, Kevin?

Like, you know, you're thinking like, okay, we get a complaint about this.

You're I assume your first thing is like this is the process you can file for I'm not gonna take your fifth dog right now, or our you know what I mean.

Like what what what is the the implementation timeline with giving them the opportunity to do that?

Yeah, I'm we never I would never go over and just take a dog right then or there for sure, unless they were like, Well, here's this one.

Um, but yeah, we always give people time.

Our typical is two weeks.

I know this doesn't necessarily have a time on it, but it's similar to your other quarantine because the other time.

Okay, and we're always willing to work with people.

I mean, I I don't think this would take a whole lot to work with.

All they have to do is apply for it, and you know, if there's a fee, pay that fee, and then they're they're good as long as they're allowing us to do the inspections and they have everything else in their compliance.

So I'll speak to this taste, the question comes up later.

And we really haven't discussed it.

You know, there's a difference between six great things and six cats.

You're familiar with a case of 20 cats.

This person, this may be cost or person for 20 cats.

You know, and I've wrestled with that question saying, Well, can we make a different number for you know cats or small dogs and large dogs?

And that just becomes and then expiral as where do you make that decision?

So if that question comes up, that's the reason why you know you have to think you have to set a set point, you know, well, actually, I I was gonna ask that because I couldn't see it in here, but it's really probably that it becomes cost prohibitive.

Do we have a maximum number?

We don't.

Would you like one?

I'm just I mean, I'm thinking 20 great things in an R1.

Yeah, that would definitely not be sanitary.

I don't know.

So there's other things that would weigh in on its eligibility, yeah.

And I and I would doubt they would have the housing to be able to do that because there is application of having a space for that.

So somewhere in between.

Yeah.

Is there a well and I imagine this is the sort of thing I'm expecting, I know we're not at the end of it yet, but the board of health might revisit.

You know, just to see what had fit and how many permits have been fine, you know what I mean?

How how what is the complaints been?

I think probably be interesting to see what we are seeing after implementation.

Yeah, and it and again, if Kevin and his team do not if they're in the home and they're like, this isn't this is not okay, these animals are not well cared for.

He would never recommend to me that I approve that permit.

Like we rely very heavily on their expertise.

They've had a lot of extra training on animal cruelty.

Um, so we really rely heavily on their input in that regard.

Um you tell us say within the last 12 months, other than the one that appeared before council, any issues that you've run is how many issues you've run into of too many, too many animals, more than four.

Any issues that you've run into how many issues you've run into of too many, too many animals, more than four.

Um I couldn't give you an accurate number off top of my head.

Um, like we said earlier, it's not very often.

Most of the time, if we find out about it, it's through a different complaint totally.

And then most of the time with that, unless they have an outrageous number, we're gonna tell, like if they have five, we're probably gonna say, just so you know, there's an ordinance that says you can only have four adults, animals or cats or dogs, cats and dogs.

Um so if we get a complaint down the road, you're gonna have to re-home an animal at that point.

So there's some grace there.

Um all of all the examples that are coming to mind are terrible examples, right?

So it's very fresh in my mind on those.

So that's overpowering anything else I can think of, to be honest with you.

And that wasn't even in the city.

So there is no limit in county, technically.

Most of the time it's going to be an exorbitantly high number, and the animals are not being well cared for, so it would not be an issue.

An occasion where Kevin might find out um where it wasn't complaint driven, I would say the best example is going to be if an ambulance needs to come and take someone and he has to show up to secure the animals because they get those calls.

Yeah, and oh, there's there's five cats here.

There was no complaint, they're just there providing a public service alongside a lease or fire or the ambulance, and so they would find that out just by happenstance.

Thank you.

And I kind of envision um if we have this ordinances passed, if we had a complaint about somebody having too many animals when we go to visit them about that complaint.

If we can see that there's not issues there and they're complying with this, then we may take a copy of the ordinances with us to give to them and say, here's what the ordinances say, you know, it's up to you where you want to take it from there.

And a lot of times, like the the situation that even brought this to light, these are folks that are new to Columbia.

They had no idea that we had these rules until they ran afoul of these rules, and now it's very heartbreaking to them that they have to decide what to do with their animals.

Any other questions on that?

Okay, section five-112 feral cats 112.

And that we'll notice we're passing by the chickens, so we're not talking about them.

We can if you need to, good.

But the we're good.

Okay.

Kevin, can you walk through some of the we because we spent a lot of time talking about feral cat colonies?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Um, mainly it's the way it is now is very cost prohibitive to people that are wanting to maintain feral cat colonies.

It's also very hard to follow because one of the main guidelines is um recapturing those animals on an annual basis and having their vaccines redone or and their their V-line leukemia testing done.

It's very difficult to cap capture a feral cat after you've done it the first time.

They're not like dogs.

They know what a trap is after they've been caught in it and they stay clear.

Um, so one of the things we want to change is that fact that um that they don't have to have that annual testing.

Um they do have to be vaccinated against rabies at least once, which is something they always do when they first uh have a cat TNR, which is we use that term as trap neuter return.

Um, so somebody catches a cat, they take it to their vet, they have its ear notched, um, it's spayed or neutered, and then they give it a rabies shot, and then they release it.

Um, the science behind that is that there is a uh a uh strict quarantine period in place by the American Veterinary Medical Association for any animal that has been vaccinated against rabies at least once in its lifetime.

So that was kind of our thinking.

If a cat does happen to bite somebody or scratch somebody that's part of that feral cat colony, the strict quarantine can go in place at that point.

Otherwise, the AVMA recommends to euthanize that animal and send for rabies testing if it's never been vaccinated before.

Um, outside of that, also getting rid of the microchipping, because that's um is another cost prohibitive measure, and the fact is they give us a very good list of their animals with descriptions so they know what their animals look like in their pharaoh cat colony they're taking care of.

Um, so the the microchip's not necessarily doing anything there, it's just a proof of ownership, basically.

It's you scan a cat and it pops a number.

About I have a lot of questions, but I guess anyway.

Um what does a barrel cat colony look like?

How is that distinctive from someone who just has a lot of cats?

Well, they're specifically putting re ranging is that one kind of, yeah, but they're basically feeding them and maintaining them in one area.

So a lot of people they want to feed cats, they're used to hearing about people putting food out for cats because they're doing so out of the kindness of their heart.

They don't really understand they're causing that issue further problems because they're probably not spaying and neutering those cats.

So they're all gathering in one spot to feed, and then they're all procreating and making more cats, and to the problem, cats are getting sick, they're dying, they're causing some kind of a nuisance issue.

Um, so people that maintain a colony are more so keeping that specific number of cats in that area, and then that keeps other cats from moving in and it keeps them from procreating making more cats.

So over time it solves the problem of the of the overcat population.

Um so most people call us and they want a cat picked up and gone right now.

It doesn't work.

A new cat will move in the next day.

So this is the only way to kind of fix that.

So the more feral cat colonies you have in an area, the more you're actually controlling that population over time.

It's a delicate ecosystem.

Yes, yeah.

I think uh sometimes what you will see will be um shelters that have been made sometimes out of like styrofoam coolers, people will try to create an environment where the cats can get in from the elements.

Yeah, um what we have found with the existing ordinance is that I in your tenure have we only had one that actually registered?

We now have two.

Okay.

Because it's so cost prohibitive, and because if the animal caretaker cannot feasibly capture this cat more than once, like it learned its lesson, then because they can't comply with it, they just don't do it at all, even though they're providing food for the animals, and we really want that if you're providing the food and the oversight for the colony that you're doing the other things of making sure they get fixed and a rabies vaccine.

So um, we have two official ones.

Do you have an estimate of how many are in the city related?

Technically, uh one official one.

We've just had two in the last 10 years.

Okay, okay.

Uh wow, no, I don't have an estimate, but I bet it's a lot that are unregistered.

And I think most of those are cats that are not fixed.

Okay.

Because we do take a lot of complaints about people feeding um cats because that falls under this.

You have to have that colony caretaker permit in order to feed cats.

So and there are also, I mean, we we got a we got some good community input when we were discussing this particular topic.

And part of the the input is was also that there are requirements for feral cats that homed cat owned cats don't have.

So indoor outdoor kitties are not required to be fixed.

So there's there's some differences there.

Um, so this kind of makes everything a little more consistent and actually healthier for the cat colonies.

How much is the permit?

Free, no charge.

Okay, so just the cost of getting vaccinated one time and say no or whatever.

Okay, all right.

A better question kept in mind be how many times would we had a go tell somebody to stop beating the cats?

So many times, yeah.

And you know, we run into issues with that even because you can put food out for your cat, and then all the other cats are just stealing that food.

Okay, I can't disprove that.

That's it.

All right, are there any questions from council on chapter five?

When is this going to come to capsule?

Um, I guess my question for council is do you have anything that you are requesting us to take back to the Board of Health?

No, I think it's the clarification about the advisory board or the um aggressive animal advisory board.

Just in that, because I I looked up the county thing, and it's like you and Kevin serve on it, and I don't think you guys are allowed to serve on city boards.

I mean, especially because you're probably providing testimony at it.

Um, he's not there, but the responding officer would be.

Okay, yeah.

Okay.

Yeah, value.

Um I think my main question would be um what kind of public input or public education have you done on this on these changes.

I can think of a few people who would be affected by some of the changes and might want to be alerted to it before it becomes to council.

Yeah, so public input as we drafted this, you mean public input as you draft it, or even education about what has been drafted and what changes are going to affect animal owners in Columbia.

So caretakers, yeah.

Um, when we when the board of health walked through these, again, they were very intentional about we're in June, or we did feral cats pretty early.

So in April, we're the board is going to discuss section five-112, so that individuals that were particularly invested in that would know that okay, tonight is the night I need to come.

And we had that on B herd.

We had it on our page.

We shared that on our social media.

We had individuals that either commented on B herd, came and gave public testimony, or emailed information that was then shared with the board.

So I think the next point would be if as this moves forward to a full council meeting, would be we would share these largely through our social, we would use those same platforms, our social media uh and be heard to make sure that residents are aware that this is coming.

Great.

Thanks.

Chair.

Would this have a public hearing?

And maybe that's a shield question.

Maybe public comments could be old.

I mean, it could be old business, it'd be a ordinance change.

Okay, so people would have a chance to testify.

Explain to us why you guys are wrong.

Yep.

I'd like to know that people had a chance before it came to us and we get to that opportunity.

Yeah, they did in Rose Rench in our plans.

We we had a decent amount of common is I think most of the comments came about feral cat colonies.

Is that fair, Dr.

Rose?

Some about the the tethering in certain amount of how strictly certainly there are sides that would like to have more strict requirements but I think sometimes there's a reality that has to be said about how uh and they I you guys may have spoke to you at the beginning.

I mean, there are a number of changes of this that are just updating terminology changes that try to update some things into there, so a lot of it's that as well.

But yes, we did have you know comment periods during meetings, yeah.

Speaking of public education, in addition to prior to, but once whatever changes are made are adopted.

Do you have some sort of public education plan just for that?

Because I don't know how many people in Columbia know that you have a limit of four M.

Um, or what constitutes a feral cat colony.

You know, and what like I said, it's beyond just you know putting food out.

Uh, but you know, if you're going to be doing that, then there's some other guidelines that you need some following.

So just informing the public.

Yeah.

So people are very passionate about their pets, and Kevin and I are no exception.

Um, and so once if the ordinances change, we would um work with staff to have some type of a communication plan so that people are aware of these new changes.

Probably one of the best touch points with the city would be when you turn on your utility services.

By the way, here are some animal-related um things you might want to know when you're new to Columbia.

So we've certainly tossed around things like how do we how do we let people know when they first move here?

These are some things that you might want to be aware, some of the most common things that we find people in Columbia are surprised by when they move here.

Like there, you need to have your animal on a four-foot leash.

Please pick up its poop, like things like that that Kevin would see most often.

We haven't quite figured out how to make that um do that.

Welcome to Columbia.

Here's some common things our residents need to know.

Um, but it's certainly something we've been toying with.

And I will say that we're we start with education on everything.

I mean, we go to enforcement after education.

So anybody we talk to that we get a complaint about, we're gonna educate them on what the ordinances are before we take any action.

So we're gonna get them time to comply with anything too.

Our shelters are full, it is not our goal to put more animals in our shelters.

Um, Kevin and his team work really closely with owners as much as possible to figure out a way through whatever the issue is so they can keep their animals at home with them.

Can you go back over sideways?

But when you talked about the opportunities to quarantine in the home versus having to go to um like the humane society or different type of shelter.

Um so right now it does say they have to go, like you have to take it, you have to impound it.

I feel like we breezed through that one faster than I my brain could go with it because I was thinking much in the similar thing.

Yeah, it's totally dependent on the situation.

So there are um specifically under 5-3, those are the criteria they have to meet in order to basically quarantine their dog at home.

Um so right now has to have a rabi shot, has to have a license at the time the bite occurred.

Um, neither the animal or in any animal kept the owner's residence has history of running a large animal does not have a history of causing injury to a person or an animal.

Um and then they have to do that 10 days.

So and it does have this is another thing we didn't actually touch on.

Um, at the end of that quarantine period, if somebody's allowed to quarantine at home, they if it's in the city and it bites somebody outside of their family, they have to set up a exam with their veterinarian on the 10th day to say the dog shows no signs or symptoms of rabies and has finished that quarantine.

Um we wanted we have added in there that animal control would have the authority to do that as well as a veterinarian.

So we could go to somebody's house like we already do in the county and clear their dog or their cat from the quarantine um without them having to make that $65 um you know visit to the vet for an exam cream.

Okay.

Yeah.

So a lot of that is is you know a cutting down on how many dogs are at the shelters because we do have a finite amount of space there, and B saving people a lot of money on costs for that.

Right.

What would you say?

Um do you have an estimate in the city percentages that choose to keep it in the home versus have to take it away?

Um the percentage is much lower without the licensing issue.

Um that's the main pretty much almost anybody whose dog bites somebody outside the family has had to quarantine their dog because it didn't have a license at one point.

Um that's that's the one that mainly gets people more than anything.

If the dog has a history of running loose or biting somebody, then it's it's gonna be quarantined with us or a bet no matter what.

Um, I will say that I don't know if there are any vets in town that do quarantine anymore from everything I've heard from the public, there is not.

So it's pretty much just on us.

I don't know if they ever call you.

I'm not sure.

A little different because they do a lot of the best charge of exorbitant fee to do that, I think.

But uh still avoiding animal.

Some make you, I don't know, they maybe do that, I guess.

Yeah, there's well, there's quite a few that the question I have with with this was that if you're the person who's big, and you're not a member of that camera.

You feel comfortable.

And there's really no option if you're for the person that's big to choose for the animals can't, you know, liability is with the owner, yeah.

In animal control now, the city because they're seeing the thing.

So just something consideration.

Well, that's part of the reason that I asked the question.

And people are passionate about their pets and often irrational about their pets.

Um, and so when so okay, if a dog bites a neighbor, you would be not uncommon, I think someone rationalize that in any number of ways, and then maybe not be so uh careful about the kind of environment they're doing.

So that's that's what I mean.

And and on top of that, I just want to say thank you for the work that you do.

Oh, thank you.

And that's one of the reasons because people are very passionate about not only pets, but animals generally, and so these are these are important considerations for that for that reason alone.

And so these are these are important considerations for that for that reason alone.

And so I appreciate how you do your work and uh you did it.

Wow, it's actually 12 programs.

Yeah, good for you.

All right, so my understanding our next steps is that an updated ordinance will come back to uh a normal regular city council meeting.

Um I think what we're hearing is they'll should be expected to be on old business, not consent agenda, so that people have another opportunity to speak.

Um, and then I think I also heard from just um I think including in the council memo what public outreach did happen, and then also the plan for education and outreach after it passes would be appreciated.

Anything else on chapter five?

Oh, Beth, are you gonna admit guilt?

No.

How many cats do you have?

No complaints.

I have my sister's cats, so that's why I have too many.

But my next door neighbor has too many also, but she has rabbits.

So my question um just out of curiosity, she's like, Oh, am I in trouble?

The rabbits and my kind of thing so they're house rabbits.

Oh, there is an ordinance in there about rabbits.

It's four wings rabbits, I think.

Okay, I think she's got two or three rabbits and a couple dogs.

And they all get long.

Don't ask me.

This is what holds a record.

No one's complaints.

Or anything else for chapter five.

Yeah, yeah.

Any stipulations for journals asking for voucher folks.

I think we should quit.

Yeah.

All right.

Anything else on chapter five for this?

Well, thank you all for doing this and going through the process.

Um, I I appreciate especially Board of Health, thank you, Tom, and the other members that are here.

Um, I think especially because you know, we hear people we hear like one part of an ordinance, and I appreciate uh the board going through like the whole section and finding the additional update that you needed that were out of date or just needed to be improved.

Um, so I let that be the other departments in case that comes up, I think it's appreciated.

So the the board was very thoughtful and diligent, and they it pretty much dominated all of 2025 and their meetings.

So they put a lot of work into it.

Well, appreciate it.

And we're feeling left out, you know, the pandemic was over.

We talked about dogs and cats.

All right, well, thank you.

Is there anything else uh for the good of the cause that council?

Is there anything related to the agenda?

Any questions on for the agenda this evening that weren't answered beforehand?

I think we have um there's uh three things that are pulled from consent just as a heads up for us.

Um one is a a bill that's a reply, and the other two are the resolutions which just need some supplemental memos or wording um updated to them.

That's all.

Anything else, Sheila, that you can think of?

All right, well, then you all have like an hour to eat second dinner.

All right, I'll go ahead and adjourn our immediate 55.