The Emporia City Commission will not be going to the dogs quite yet.
A discussion of the city’s “vicious dog” ordinance, which had been set for Wednesday’s meeting, has been rescheduled for the second time in a month. Commissioners will take it up on Nov. 22.
Emporia resident Tricia Segobia began pushing for the ordinance to be tightened in October, after a former dog of hers and a neighbor’s dog were killed by the same pit bull-Siberian husky mix. Her changes would define a “vicious animal” as one that attacks or kills another animal or a human and would require “notorious breeds” to be registered with the city and covered by liability insurance.
The topic was originally to be discussed Oct. 18, but was pushed to a November study session to allow it to be discussed more fully. According to Acting City Manager Mark McAnarney, the new postponement will give commissioners time to attend a Web-based seminar on the subject.
Meanwhile, Emporia resident Jean Emley has added her voice to those of Segobia’s supporters. Emley said her 8-year-old poodle had been attacked and almost skinned by three pit bulls on Oct. 25.
“The vet saved him, but he has stitches everywhere,” Emley said.
Animals won’t be entirely absent from Wednesday’s agenda, however. Commissioners will discuss whether to raise some of the fees at the city’s animal shelter.
The subject originally came up during the city’s budget hearings, when commissioners considered cutting the job of the shelter manager. A hasty effort by supporters produced a petition with 832 signatures in support of the manager, along with suggestions that the position be paid for in part by an increase in impoundment fees.
Emporia charges $10 every time an owner “bails out” their pet. Other cities step up the cost for repeat offenders. Salina, for example, charges $2 per day plus $28 for the first offense, which rises to $48 for the second offense and $68 for the third.
Commissioners voted to keep the job at an August 2 meeting and showed some interest in the impound fees. However, a related proposal to increase adoption fees was met with less enthusiasm.