Pet ordinance escapes committee

An ordinance updating Havre's pet regulations will conclude its four-month journey to City Council next week.

The council's Ordinance Committee sent the legislation to be voted on by the Council Monday, after spending the summer discussing and revising four drafts.

The final version divides problematic animals three groups, with respective levels of possible punishments. Under the ordinance:

• If an animal is frequently loud or makes people in the vicinity uncomfortable, it is a nuisance animal. The first violation in this category brings a $50 fine.

• If an animal is destructive, harming or attempting to harm people, property or other animals, it is an aggressive animal. A first violation warrants not only a $100 fine but also a requirement of the owner to provide proof of $100,000 in liability insurance. This requirement would be satisfied by homeowner's insurance or renter's insurance.

• If an animal is destructive, but in a "vicious or terrorizing manner, " it is deemed to be a vicious animal. The first fine for this offence is $300, and and the owner must provide proof of $200,000 in insurance.

The ordinance will be voted on at the City Council meeting on 7 p. m. Monday, Sept. 20.

The Ordinance Committee also resumed discussion of an ordinance on trees, recommended some changes and decided to take up discussion again at the next committee meeting at 6 p. m. Thursday, Sept. 30.

An ordinance updating Havre's pet regulations will conclude its four-month journey to City Council next week.

The council's Ordinance Committee sent the legislation to be voted on by the Council Monday, after spending the summer discussing and revising four drafts.

The final version divides problematic animals three groups, with respective levels of possible punishments. Under the ordinance:

• If an animal is frequently loud or makes people in the vicinity uncomfortable, it is a nuisance animal. The first violation in this category brings a $50 fine.
• If an animal is destructive, harming or attempting to harm people, property or other animals, it is an aggressive animal. A first violation warrants not only a $100 fine but also a requirement of the owner to provide proof of $100,000 in liability insurance. This requirement would be satisfied by homeowner's insurance or renter's insurance.
• If an animal is destructive, but in a "vicious or terrorizing manner, " it is deemed to be a vicious animal. The first fine for this offence is $300, and and the owner must provide proof of $200,000 in insurance.

The ordinance will be voted on at the City Council meeting on 7 p. m. Monday, Sept. 20.

The Ordinance Committee also resumed discussion of an ordinance on trees, recommended some changes and decided to take up discussion again at the next committee meeting at 6 p. m. Thursday, Sept. 30.