HARRISBURG (TNS) — One borough in Pennsylvania is mulling over the idea of limiting the number of pets each household may have.
And it’s safe to say that there are a number of people against this idea.
CBS Local Pittsburgh reports how officials in West Mifflin Borough, Allegheny County, brought forward this idea after a vicious dog attack occurred nearly a year ago.
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“There are some nuisance animals,” explains borough manager, Brian Kamauf. “So what they’re [the borough council] trying to do is put an ordinance to eliminated nuisance animals.”
According to the same CBS Local Pittsburgh article, this proposed ordinates proclaims that, “It shall be lawful for any person/owner to keep pets, but no more than three dogs and no more than five cats/or dogs combined in total over the age of six months in a structure, living unit or unimproved land. For example, a person/owner may lawfully have three dogs and two cats, or two dogs and three cats or five cats; but may never have more than 3 dogs.”
This, reads the ordinance itself, also applies to pets such as guinea pigs as well as dogs and cats. Those who fail to comply face being fined up to $1,000 and even imprisonment.
A separate CBS Local Pittsburgh report states that this ordinance has prompted outcry amongst many, especially those who fear they may be forced to get rid of the pets they own in order to comply with the ordinance.
“There should be nobody able to come in and tell me that my children can’t have a hamster and their dogs or cats,” says pet owner and West Mifflin resident, Kristine Miller, to the station. “It just…it doesn’t make any sense.”
However, officials in the borough are reassuring everyone that this won’t be the case.
“We’re not going to force anyone to get rid of any animals and they’re going to have overwhelmed shelters,” confirms borough solicitor, Phil DiLucente. “This is a very animal-friendly borough and a very animal-friendly council. So we’re going to get it right.”
A public borough meeting discussing the proposed ordinance will be held this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
