Casper Star-Tribune Online

Advanced Search

Metro: Raise fines to raise awareness

Animal control officer Kyle Tuma gathers stray puppies from a yard at a home in Mills on Saturday morning. The resident of the home was unable to keep the 3 puppies after he found them running on a busy nearby street. The dogs were taken to the Metro Animal Shelter to be either claimed by their owners or put up for adoption. Photo by Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune

Story Tools

Print this story

E-mail this story

Rate this story

Text Size

Share This Story:

trib.popular

By TOM MORTON
Star-Tribune staff writer

Sunday, November 16, 2008 2:05 AM MST

Natrona County and Metro Animal Control want to take a bigger financial bite from irresponsible pet owners before their animals take another bite out of you.

Last month, Metro Animal Control director Rick Sulzen asked the county commission to raise fines for animal violations in the county so they would be aligned with those in the City of Casper.

"Higher fines would help," officer Hannah Cooper said Saturday. "I think it would be more of an eye-opener for them [the irresponsible pet owners]."

For example, the City of Casper levies a fine of $105 -- $95 fine plus $10 for court costs -- for a first-time offense for an animal at large, $250 for a second offense, and the third offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $750 and up to a six-month jail sentence, Sulzen said.

But the same violation in the county is $60 for the first offense, and $110 for the second and all subsequent offenses, he said.

The disparities also exist for animal neglect, cruelty, bites, and disposing of carcasses, Sulzen said.

Even so, the fines can be reduced or waived when the case gets to court, he said.

That's frustrating for him, Cooper and animal control officer Kyle Tuma.

"You try to do everything you can and all they have is a $50 fine," Tuma said.

City and county residents don't vary in their attitude toward animals, but the county has unique issues including animals chasing livestock and wildlife, Cooper said.

She hopes the Metro Animal Control Joint Powers Board can do something to raise awareness, she said.

Sulzen is chairman of the board, which includes representatives from the county, Casper, Evansville and Bar Nunn. But that board is an advisory board only, and cannot set punishments, Sulzen told the commissioners.

Commissioner Matt Keating, the county's representative to the board, said the commission has authorized him to support an increase in fines.

However, the commission has asked the county attorney to determine just what it can do, Keating said.

But he'd like to see stiffer punishment for violators, he said, "to give a little more bite to these owners if their animals are on the loose."

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@trib.com.


		State supreme court delays Eaton's execution

Article Rating

Reader Comments

There are 5 comment(s)

Comments to this story.

Tom S wrote on Nov 16, 2008 11:03 AM:

" Please raise the fines!!! It is getting more and more dangerous on the streets of Casper. I get charged a least once every two weeks while biking or walking. I now carry pepper spray. This fall I had metro remove a male pit bull from my back yard - across the street from an Elementary School. It is only a matter of time before we have a fatal mauling. Metro has it right, maybe increased fines will get unresponsible dog owners to wake up to the seriousness of their responsibilities. "

Susan M wrote on Nov 16, 2008 12:15 PM:

" We completely support a fine increase!! We have had lots of trouble with loose dogs charging us while we are walking our leashed dogs on our County Street. The owners of these dogs have been ticketed numerous times and even lost in court but they continue to let their dogs run loose.
They might not care about other peoples safety but they will care about handing over large amounts of money for their irresponsibility. Which does not say much about them.
Metro you have our total support!!!! "

hmmm wrote on Nov 16, 2008 2:55 PM:

" It's B.S. to think raising the fines will be any detriment to dogs at large!
In most cases, the dog gets out as a fluke. In the case of people not caring if their dog runs free, try making a law whereby it can be confiscated!
Higher fines have never impeded the very people they were meant to deal with, they only hurt the ones who have had a rare situation! "

Susan M wrote on Nov 16, 2008 5:22 PM:

" "Dogs get out as a fluke," you should live on my street. Some of my neighbors think my property is their dogs public park. Their dogs are out all the time unsupervised. They do not care because the fines are sooo low. Confiscate then yes but let them pay for my torment as well. It will remind them the next time. I have had enough of the excuses. "

wyomom wrote on Nov 17, 2008 9:31 PM:

" This is my house. My husband was near the off road park on Poison Spider Rd when he drove past these puppies. He brought them home as they were no where near any houses and hiding on the side of the road. They were cold and starving for food and attention.I hope the owner gets a fine for abandonment and someone adopts them. They are cute and very friendly, lovable around my son and other dog. "

Submit a Comment

We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.

Please note: We provide our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.