City of Alcoa Resident Alert!
Animal Ordinance Proposed Changes before City CommissionFebruary 13th, 2007, 7PM, at the City of Alcoa Municipal Building, 223 Associates Boulevard, Alcoa, TN

Please attend.

** UPDATE: The City of Alcoa has graciously considered our suggested changes to the ordinance and is making changes to better meet the needs of a progressive community. Attendance may not be required, except to thank them.

Read more about the opposition and suggested changes after the jump..

1. Oppose Section 10-133, Right of Entry allowing law enforcement entry into your house without a warrant.
Suggested changes might be to allow entry and inspection of property that is outside and in plain public view, such as a yard or a lot, and to require a warrant pursuant to a valid complaint to enter a dwelling or other building except in cases where there is a clear, observable, and imminent threat to an animal's safety such as a fire, other emergency, or clearly observable inhumane conditions. Also, provision for any law enforcement officer, fire/rescue/paramedics, and maybe even private citizens to force entry of a vehicle with a pet inside in hot weather that is clearly in distress.

2. Oppose Sec. 10-111, item (b), an animal wearing a valid city tag shall be held for a period of seven (7) working days from the date of apprehension. Untagged, unregistered animals shall be held for a period of three (3) working days. “Working Days” are defined as days the Animal Shelter is open.
Suggested changes might be to leave the number of days to ten as is provided in the current ordinance, section 10-205. There should also be a requirement for animal control officers to check for micro-chips and check the registries in a timely manner if found. There should also be a requirement for notifying pet owners, if known, in an adequate and timely manner.

3. Oppose Sec. 10-105. Maximum number of animals per household:
No person shall keep, lodge or maintain in excess of four (4) dogs and / or cats over the age of six (6) months. For the purpose of this ordinance the head of the household is responsible for meeting the requirements of the maximum number of animals allowed.”
Suggested changes might be considered. First, maybe the standard should be no more pets than the owner can adequately and humanely care for without causing a nuisance. The number four seems arbitrary and could actually lead to an increase in the number of strays or pets in shelters. At any rate, maybe there should be a "grandfather" clause to exempt current owners of more than four pets as long as there haven't been any complaints.
This proposed ordinance seems unreasonable, especially for cat people or people with small dogs. It also reads as a total of four pets in any combination of dogs or cats.

4. Modify Sec. 10-101 Definitions. Muzzle. The term “muzzle” means a device constructed of strong, soft material or metal, designed to fasten over the mouth of an animal to prevent the animal from biting any person or animal. Such device shall not interfere with the animal’s ability to breathe.”
Suggested change to also specify that the muzzle can't interfere with the animal's ability to drink water.

Before the City Commission meeting, please contact the City of Alcoa Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Manager, and City Commissioners regarding this topic and register your opposition.
City Manager: Mark L. Johnson
Mayor: Donald R. Mull
Vice Mayor: Odis C. Abbott, Jr.
Commissioner: Vaughn D. Belcher
Commissioner: Clayton G. Bledsoe
Commissioner: George Williams
All can be contacted at City of Alcoa, 223 Associates Boulevard, Alcoa, TN 37701
Phone: 865-380-4700