PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is looking to raise fines for those who dump man's best friend.

 

The City Council's Ordinance and Rules Committee on Monday voted in favor of a number of changes to the local animal control laws. The changes including raising the fines for abandoning dogs by 10 times the current amount, changing the fine structure for other animal violations, and shortening the number of days before a stray dog can head to adoptions.

 

"If we don't find an owner after seven days, then chances are we aren't going to find the owner," said Animal Control Commissioner and Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter Board of Directors Chairwoman Krista Wroldson Miller. 

 

Miller said the changes comply with fairly recent changes to state laws. When a stray comes into the shelter, the animal is held for 10 days. But, now the time has been reduced to seven. After seven days, the shelter will start the process of spaying or neutering the animal, getting it vaccinated, testing its behavior, and then accepting applications for adoption.

 

She added that when dogs come into the shelter, they get stressed. Seldom do owners claim the animal after a full week so those three extra days are keeping the animal at the shelter and delaying when it can be given a new home.

 

The changes also include upping the fine for someone who abandons a dog. Miller said abandoned dogs also come into the shelter and sometimes the city is able to find the owner. When an owner is found, he or she is fined $30 but that is looked to be increased to $300.

 

Animal Control Officer Joseph Chague says abandoning a dog is a felony.

 

"If we find out who abandoned it, we can bring charges," he said.

 

The city is also looking to change the fine schedule for other violations of animal control laws. Currently, every single incident is a $300 fine but that is being changed back to a progressive schedule with the first offense being $50, $100 for the second, and $300 for subsequent violations. 

 

"At some point, it was changed from a progressive fee structure to $300 every single time someone violated it," Miller said.

 

Another change is that the city can now demand proof of rabies vaccinations for claiming a stray dog. If the owner cannot provide that, then the owner will be required to pay for the shelter to provide the vaccinations.

 

The petition was crafted by the Animal Control Commission and submitted to the City Council by Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi. The councilor said it was already reviewed by City Solicitor Richard Dohoney, who was in the audience Monday but was not asked any questions.

 

The Ordinance and Rules Committee unanimously approved the petition. It will now head to the full City Council for enactment.