Item B: Rules Concerning Dog Ownership in City Limits

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Rules Concerning Dog Ownership in City Limits Meeting Date: December 14, 2005 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Mike McKerrow www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5251 ISSUE STATEMENT Eugene’s land use code restricts the number of adult dogs, six months and older, to two dogs per residence. The existing definition of kennel has been identified for possible revision to allow more than two dogs on a residential property. BACKGROUND Since 1968, kennels have been defined as keeping three or more adult dogs on a premise. Kennels are not allowed in residential zones. The effect is to prohibit residents from having more than two adult dogs in their home. No modifications to this definition were proposed in the land use code update in 2001. Staff has received an average of eight complaints per year over the last three years about the number of dogs on a property. All complaints involved single-family residential lots and the negative effects of barking. One-third of the complaints cited obnoxious or vicious behavior by the dog(s) while just a few mentioned accumulation of dog feces and odor. Almost 40 percent of the complaints involved a case with three adult dogs. Another approximately 40 percent of the cases involved four or five adult dogs. The remainder of cases involved between seven and 16 dogs. About two-thirds of the cases were resolved with phone calls or information letters. The other third were resolved after sending a correction notice. No fines were levied as part of these investigations. The City does not track complaints involving one or two dogs on a property, as no zoning violation is involved. Customers with complaints about barking, dog at large, or dog biting incidents are referred to Lane County Animal Regulation Authority. The City of Springfield allows a maximum of three dogs on residential property. Salem enforces illegal businesses in residential zones such as a commercial kennel, dog day care, or a commercial breeder, but Salem’s code does not define kennel. RELATED CITY POLICIES The council adopted a new land use code in 2001 after a comprehensive review. The new code balanced the goal of increasing residential density with the goal of enhancing livability by limiting negative L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M051214\S051214B.doc