City Council members passed an ordinance Tuesday that would limit the number of cats and dogs residents living within city limits can keep in their homes.
ORANGE, Texas — Animal owners in the city of Orange can look forward to new pet policies. City Council members passed an ordinance Tuesday that would limit the number of cats and dogs residents living within city limits can keep in their homes.
Residents cannot keep more than five dogs or cats in a household.
Mayor Pro Tem Paul Birch said the ordinance is aimed at holding pet owners accountable and reducing the number of stray dogs roaming the streets.
“The chamber was filled with constituents complaining about uncared for dogs,” he said. “People have 10, 12, 15 dogs in their backyards and they're not being taken care of.”
Birch said the decision to limit pets considered many factors, including noise.
“One dog started barking and then 10, 12, 15 dogs started barking as they were causing problems for the on-duty worker,” he said. “So, if you have a pet, your dog will start barking.”
Orange Animal Control will be responsible for enforcing the new ordinance.
“They're not going to knock on the door and say, how many do you have? They're actually going to work with people to find a place to go,” Birch said.
Details | Meeting Agenda Orange City Council
Limiting the number of pets in a home will keep animals and people safe, said Orange Animal Control Supervisor Andy Borrell, who operates the animal shelter.
“It will make rescue easier and safer for rescuers. The fewer people we have to rescue, the easier it will be to move people in times of disaster,” Borrell said.
Borrell welcomes the new ordinance, but recognizes it could be a problem for crowded animal shelters.
“Well, there are a lot of people who have them, and some of them may not be very personable, so I think in the end they'll just have to hand them over to a shelter.” .”
Residents who have five or more dogs and cats in their homes can work with Orange Animal Control to find new homes for their animals.
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