Best Practices in Local Animal Control Ordinances

• DOI: 10.1177/0160323X17731889
• Author: Laura A. Reese,Kellee M. Remer
• Date: 01 June 2017
• Published date: 01 June 2017
• Subject Matter: Research Note

Research Note

Best Practices in Local

Animal Control Ordinances

Laura A. Reese

1

and Kellee M. Remer

2

Abstract

Inadequate animal control ordinances can lead to increased health risks from dog bites, lawsuits

from dog attacks, complaints about nuisance issues, improper care of and lack of protection for

companion animals, and animal suffering. Yet, no research to date has explored the nature of extant

local animal control ordinances nor assessed how closely they match best practice guidelines. This

article provides information to public officials on model policy by examining local animal control

ordinances in Michigan, comparing existing policy to best practice models, identifying the types of

communities most likely to promulgate model policy, and making recommendations regarding local

animal control ordinances. The findings make clear that cities on the whole do not have animal

control ordinances that follow best practice guidelines. Generally, control issues are emphasized

over animal welfare concerns, and policies are not sufficiently detailed to protect the community,

animal guardians, or the animals themselves.

Keywords

local ordinances, animal control ordinances

Public policies related to local animal control

have not been well explored; yet, issues of ani-

mal welfare have long been tied to municipal

politics (Wang 2012). Because “pet policymak-

ing illustrates the complexity of conflicting

public effort to cope with pets as objects of

affection, economic value, respect, or abuse in

a unique policy domain,” the issue of animals

in the city is inherently political (Brisbin and

Hunter 2016:26). A survey condu cted in 1974

found that mayors ranked animal-related issues

as the most common complaint to their offices

(Clancy and Rowan 2003), and city managers

currently note that animal control is the policy

area they were least prepared t o address when

coming into their jobs (Swindell forthcoming).

Inadequate animal control ordinances can lead

to increased health risks from dog bites, law-

suits resulting from dog attacks, resident

complaints about nuisance issues, improper

care of and lack of protection for companion

animals, and animal suffering.

This is particularly concerning since it is

estimated that 37 percent and 30 percent of

U.S. households include a dog or cat, respec-

tively, with the total population around

69,926,000 (dogs) and 74,059,000 (cats) based

1

Global Urban Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, and

Political Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing,

MI, USA

2

Global Urban Studies, Michigan State University, East

Lansing, MI, USA

Corresponding Author:

Laura A. Reese, Michigan State University, 447 Berkey Hall,

East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Email: reesela@msu.edu

State and Local GovernmentReview

2017, Vol. 49(2) 117-126

ªThe Author(s) 2017

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DOI: 10.1177/0160323X17731889

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