Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1992 TAG: 9202260276
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MONICA DAVEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
CATS-DOGS BILL GETS APPROVAL IN BEDFORD
Bedford residents may no longer own more than five dogs or cats - or combination thereof - without a special permit under an ordinance adopted Tuesday by City Council.For owners of pets that are not neutered or spayed, the limit is four dogs or cats.
There had been no restriction on the number of animals city dwellers could own.
Bedford officials say the tighter limits were needed to get a booming population of animals under control and to cut down complaints of pets running loose and causing trouble.
Under the new law, which council members adopted unanimously and with little discussion, owners of more than five dogs or cats will pay $25 annually for a special "breeder/hobbyist" permit. Owners of more than 10 animals will pay $50 for the permit.
The new law also changed the fees for regular dog licenses.
Owners of dogs that are not spayed or neutered will pay $5. Now, annual licenses cost $3 for any dog.
In addition, the new law tightens up what had been a vague requirement that pet owners control their animals.
The new ordinance defines "control" as on a leash, in "voice control," in a car, on the pet owner's property or on the property of someone else with the consent of that person.
The ordinance does not address the issue of using Bedford pound animals for medical or scientific research.
In a public hearing on the ordinance, speakers had asked council not to prohibit such use of the animals.
Other speakers - including the recipient of a heart transplant - had described the value of medical research and criticized Bedford County officials for banning the use of pound animals for research in their current animal-control ordinance.