Revisions to the City of Durango Animal Control Code, approved by the City Council on August 1, will go into effect on Wednesday, September 20. The changes are intended to do a better job of protecting the public from dangerous animals and reducing nuisance interactions with animals. A new set of fines for animal-related violations also takes effect on September 20, 2006.

Dog and cat owners should be particularly aware of the new requirement that dogs and cats over the age of 6 months be spayed or neutered. Anyone may obtain an exception to this requirement with a $30 “intact permit”, available at the La Plata County Humane Society.

Some additional changes citizens should note include:

• Animals are not allowed at City-authorized public events held on public property at which food is vended or served. Event organizers may request an exemption for dog-related events.
• Owners of dogs must be outside with their dog if it is on their property without a fence, “invisible” fense, or physical restraint such as a leash or tether.
• Illegal “nuisance barking” is defined as any animal noise that occurs for a period of time that is a nuisance to another person, rather than for a 10-minute period as previously written.
• Police officers will respond to reports of vicious animals in progress, and will assist whenever possible in addressing nuisance complaints during hours not covered by Animal Protection.

In order to better enforce these new rules and protect the public from dangerous animals, the City of Durango has increased its funding to the La Plata County Humane Society in order to hire two additional officers to patrol the City. Beginning October 1, there will be Animal Protection officers on duty between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Lindsay Nelson in the Durango City Manager’s Office, 375-5001 or by email. The La Plata County Humane Society can be reached at 259-2847.