Pets in the City of Perry are something that has been debated more than once over the past year, most recently a resident expressed concern about vicious dogs and suggested the City looks into having an animal control officer to take the load off police.

City Administrator Butch Niebuhr says while that would be ideal there are several potential roadblocks. First, the city does not have funds available to employ their own animal control officer and the police department is already dealing with officers on overtime.  The option of sharing such an officer with other area communities also came up but Niebuhr says that too would be difficult.

“When you start talking about hiring personnel, then you’re talking about benefits and everything else that goes along with that” says Niebuhr.  “Now if you had somebody who was regional working on that, the first time something happens they’re going to be in another community, they’re not going to be in the community where it happens, it’s going to take a little while, they’re still going to have to be covered.  So in theory, it sounds great.  In practicality, sometimes it just doesn’t work out.”

Niebuhr says even if the ordinance is amended… it’s up to pet owners to be responsible and there’s already an issue with residents not obeying the rules.

Discussion on the Perry animal ordinance is expected to continue at a future City Council meeting.