Noel City Council Grappling With Dog Control Issue

Noel City Council is grappling with figuring out what to do about dogs running loose in its town.

Council members are expected to discuss and possibly recommend an option at the next city council meeting, set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

Aldermen discussed the issue at the most recent meeting on July 10 but couldn't come to a consensus on what they call a complex issue. They decided to table any action on charging fines for dogs or cats that are not spayed or neutered.

Last month, Bev Bartley, with the "I'm Your Huckleberry" animal rescue, asked the council to consider charging Noel residents an increased fee for having a cat or dog that is not spayed or neutered. Bartley plans to ask various McDonald County towns to do the same. Charging a fee for not having a spayed or neutered pet is "the only way to get people to take responsibility," she said.

She asked city council members to increase the fee, possibly charging up to $100.

Aldermen acknowledged that dogs running loose is a problem in Noel. During the discussion at the July 10 city council meeting, Marshal Paul Gardner said the "I'm Your Huckleberry" has been picking up dogs in town, but that the organization is at capacity.

He said dogs that are running loose oftentimes are hit and killed by the train coming through town.

Alderwoman Allie Peck said she wants stricter guidelines imposed on owners whose dogs are running loose. She cited the example of a large dog that was recently hit by the train. She said she knew the owner and told that person that she was sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that the dog had been killed by the train.

"It's OK, the city will clean it up," the owner purportedly told Peck.

Mayor Lewis Davis said, during the meeting, that city workers are not supposed to be on the train tracks.

Council members said the issue is a difficult one. Some people don't even register their animals with the city. Raising registration fees or charging fees for not spaying or neutering a pet could further deter residents from registering their animals with the city, some members said.

Before the next meeting, Davis said he would research what steps other local towns are taking with dog-control issues.