Animal Control Ordinance Under Review

The Bourbon City Council on Tuesday reviewed changes to the animal control ordinance drafted by Attorney Robert Davis.

The revisions are being necessitated after two people were bitten by a loose pit bull April 12.

One of the people bitten was Michelle Reynolds Gray, who owns the Bourbon Cafe & Coffee Saloon. Reynolds Gray was forced to seek medical attention. The city has taken action against the dog’s owner and Davis said charges could be filed.  One of the revisions that Davis has made to the ordinance is bringing back tagging. Residents who let their dogs run loose without tags will be ticketed.

The changes will likely be adopted at a future meeting.

While Bourbon has maximum penalties on the books for various animal-related fines, one of the big issues is the lack of an animal control officer and an area to house stray animals. Mayor Dave Lafferty said during the council’s April meeting that he has contacted neighboring towns with animal control officers, but they have turned the city down. The city was forced to close its kennel roughly 20 years after complaints from the Humane Society of Missouri.

The kennel was not in a climate-controlled area and it was shut down.