SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Sylacauga City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 1 on a proposed ordinance that would prohibit feeding feral and wild dogs within the city’s Hwy 280 corridor business district.
The hearing is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will give residents an opportunity to provide public opinion or comment on Proposed Ordinance 2290-26.
The proposed ordinance defines a wild or feral dog as a domesticated dog that has escaped captivity or been abandoned and now lives in the wild. City officials cite public health and safety concerns, as well as potential harm to the animals, as reasons for the proposed restrictions.
If adopted, the ordinance would prohibit anyone from knowingly feeding, baiting, or otherwise providing food to feral or wild dogs in the designated corridor unless the person has written permission from the property owner and has that permission in their possession.
The proposal also would prohibit leaving or storing refuse, garbage, food products, pet food, or forage products in a manner that could attract feral or wild dogs in the district, subject to the same written-permission provision.
The restrictions would not apply to city, state, or federal agents or animal control officers conducting authorized operations to control or eradicate feral and wild dogs.
Animal control officers, code compliance officers, and city public safety officers would be authorized to enforce the ordinance. Each day, or part of a day, that a violation continues would constitute a separate violation.
A first offense would result in a written warning. A second offense would carry a minimum $200 fine upon conviction. Third or subsequent offenses could result in a fine of $300 to $500, as well as community service or up to six months in jail at the judge’s discretion.
The ordinance would take effect immediately upon adoption and publication as required by law.
