InsideOut at City Hall

by Annise D. Parker

PET PATROL

The City Regulates Animal Magnetism

It would be impossible to visit my home without noticing that we love animals. We have a dog that jumped into our car at a rainy intersection years ago. We have a pond full of fat, spoiled goldfish. Also underfoot are assorted cats, one without an eye and another without a tail, with their own stories to tell. Of course, all the mammals have city tags and are spayed or neutered. (At various times in our youth Kathy and I had hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, squirrels, turtles, doves, and one snake.)

Soon after being elected to City Council in 1997, I was asked to help develop and sponsor an exotic animal ordinance to prohibit people from keeping dangerous wild animals, such as lions, tigers, or poisonous reptiles, in the city. (Ask me some time about how ferrets were almost included in the ordinance!) I worked with the Fund for Animals, the SPCA, and BARC, the city’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care. It was my first of many opportunities to work with BARC.

A division of the health department, BARC may be the most under-funded city service. After all, how many elected officials include animals or animal control anywhere in their top priorities? But animal control is a sad yet necessary public safety issue. In my six years on council, I have always included at least one BARC request in my budget amendments. I have tried to work behind the scenes to get additional funds or prevent reductions in a program that struggles to provide adequate animal control and some education in a city with far too many fertile stray cats and dogs. BARC director John Nix has a tough job working with minimal resources and abundant red tape.

Where to turn

Both the city and the county operate pounds. Both respond to complaints of loose dogs and will pick up dogs spotted by animal control officers, but neither routinely picks up stray cats. Stray or untagged cats are often dropped off at the shelters.

If you go to www.Petharbor.com on the web and type in your Houston ZIP code to look for a lost pet or one to adopt, you’ll notice something new. BARC now has photos of its dogs and cats on the Internet. At press time, BARC was still trying to get permission from the city legal department to link to petharbor.com from the BARC website, which I hope will happen soon.

When most Houstonians think of adopting an animal, the SPCA, Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP), or the Humane Society probably come to mind. The same groups would also top the checklist if you lost your four-legged friend.

If you have lost a cat or dog, you can also check for them at Petharbor.com. Since the city keeps stray animals only three days (without city tags) or six days (with tags), you will probably want to check at the city shelter. Call 713/238-9600 for hours and directions.

City pet adoptions

BARC may offer the cheapest cat and dog adoptions in the city—$35 for a dog or cat that is spayed or neutered, complete with city tag and rabies shot. For more information, call BARC at 713/238-9600; check the BARC website, www.ci.houston.tx.us/departme/health/barc1-new.html; or look at the photos of adoptable animals at Petharbor.com.

The city also contributes to spaying and neutering efforts by giving $20,000 a year to the Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) to support its low-cost and free programs. SNAP performs free spay/neuter surgeries for persons who meet certain needs-based criteria, including people with AIDS Foundation gold cards.

Dog parks

Due to popular demand, the county approved a dog park last year at George Bush Park in the Barker Resevoir. Work has just begun on the 15-acre park (complete with three lakes and doggie showers). Two weeks ago, the Bellaire City Council approved funds for one.

Houston may soon have a dog park. I wish I could be more definite. I am dedicating the revenue from the City of Houston Birthday Gala, which I chair, for creation of a dog park. There is no money for acquisition, so we need to build on current city land, preferably centrally located. The parks department is negotiating for additional parking near one possible site. The area would be fenced and operate under special regulations. For instance, dogs would have to wear rabies tags, owners would be required to pick up after their dogs, and owners would be required to be on-site at all times.

Some Houston dog owners are unleashing their dogs in various parks, including the green space along Allen Parkway. Owners do this at their own risk, as the city does have a leash law. And we get periodic complaints from joggers and bikers accosted by unruly pets.

Pooper scooper

I would still like to introduce a pooper-scooper ordinance. The problem is funding. While I think an ordinance would have symbolic impact, we really don’t have the funds right now to enforce one. In most cities where the ordinance has been a success, it has been introduced with fanfare—an educational program and stepped-up enforcement so that citizens understand that the ordinance will be enforced. As you may know, Houston is one of the few major cities without such an ordinance. And we get a lot of complaints. Please, bag it!

Annise Parker is serving her third term in Houston City Council At-large Position 1 and is a candidate for city controller. To receive her bi-monthly e-mail newsletter, contact annise.parker@cityofhouston.net or call 713/247-2014. Her website is www.ci.houston.tx.us/city govt/council/1.

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