Quincy changes dog law, requires neutering, spaying

QUINCY - A new Quincy ordinance requires most dog owners to have their animals spayed or neutered.

The city council passed the change to its animal control ordinance during a recent meeting. The change requires owners of dogs more than a year old to be spayed or neutered. The requirement doesn't affect dogs registered with the American Kennel Club as a purebred.

The ordinance included increases to fines as well. The fine for not having a dog license was $10 for the first offense and $30 for each subsequent offense for any dog. Now it will be $60 for the first offense and $100 for the second offense within a year for a spayed, neutered or certified purebred dog. For a non-spayed or neutered dog it is increased to $100 for the first offense and $200 for the second offense within a year.

The fines for failing to control a biting animal, dogs running at large, keeping a vicious animal, barking dogs, failing a contain a dog in heat and interfering with an animal control officer increased as well. The increases range from $20 for dog running at large to $250 for interfering with an animal control officer.

The changes passed unanimously without any discussion from the councilmembers.

Mayor Jim Hemberry said in an interview after the meeting, he expects the change to upset some people.

"That's fine. Sometimes you have to make a bold move," he said. "I expect we will see a few people show up to discuss that mandatory spay and neutering."

City officials have discussed the increases in fines for a while, Hemberry said. Several of the fines were close to the cost of following the ordinance requirements.

"It's $10 to buy a license, it's a $10 fine if you don't. Well (some people) roll the dice, what the heck," he said.

He said part of the idea is to teach people to be responsible with their animals, and sometimes it takes strict rules to accomplish that end.

The Quincy Police Department is offering a grace period to people to get their dogs spayed and neutered and to get dog licenses until April 1, according to a city statement. People seeking an exception for a purebred dog need to provide their American Kennel Club certificate for each dog.

For more information on the new ordinance, contact Animal Control Officer Eric Talbot at 509-787-4718.