Monday, June 03, 2019
On Tuesday, June 4, 2019, the Fort Smith Board of Directors will vote on a resolution that directs the City Administrator to “initiate necessary actions to evaluate animal control services, animal impoundment services, and a dog licensing program.”
An internal memo states that upon approval of the resolution, the city intends to “proceed with a Request For Proposals from qualified firms or individuals relating to the provision of municipal animal control, animal impoundment and a dog licensing program that incentivizes the sterilization of pets.”
Click here and scroll to Item 5 (pages 55-56 of the agenda) to view the resolution and memo. Please note, the 6/4/19 agenda does not include a proposed dog licensing or pet sterilization ordinance. Instead, the resolution initiates action to evaluate such programs.
What you can do
This is an excellent opportunity for Fort Smith citizens to provide input on positive, cost effective, and humane animal control solutions for their community.
Knowledgeable dog owners are encouraged to participate in these processes, which seek to reestablish animal control services, enact dog licensing requirements and fees, and that potentially could include proposals for mandatory spay/neuter of pets and other laws that affect dogs and dog owners.
If you have questions about the resolution, contact the City Administrators office at 479-784-2201 or email administration@fortsmithar.gov. If you wish to discuss these issues, offer suggestions, or volunteer to assist, you can view contact information for the Fort Smith Board of Directors here.
Please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or 919-816-3645 for additional information.