Johnson County looks at animal control ordinance

IOWA CITY - Johnson County is considering creating an ordinance for dealing with at-large or vicious animals like dogs that bite people.

There are state laws that govern things like animal welfare and rabies shots, and many cities, including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, have animal control ordinances.

But Johnson County does not have its own ordinance. That can be an issue when an animal causes property damage or is repeatedly aggressive, something the county currently does not track, Assistant County Attorney Susan Nehring said.

The Board of Supervisors discussed the matter at a work session last week, and members said they want the ordinance written as narrowly as possible.

A public hearing will be held at an undetermined date.

Under a draft ordinance, an animal that is under the control of a person who's able to restrain it would not be considered at large, which the supervisors said would protect farm dogs and cats.

The supervisors also said they were interested in having a committee to hear appeals from owners objecting to decisions to destroy their animals.

Officers already have the power under state law to destroy an animal that is attacking someone.

Supervisors are not interested, they said, in sheriff's deputies responding to a lot of calls from people for things like an animal that clearly is not dangerous crossing a street. Rod Sullivan compared it with jaywalking, saying officers don't cite people unless something out of the ordinary occurs.