Oak Park, IL limits number of dogs and cats per house

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 17:58:56 +1200, "Ashley"
wrote:


"Ted Davis" wrote in message
.. .


In more modern times, some of those objections have been mitigated,
but dog noise, attacks, and messes - even where leash laws exist and
are observed - are still problems, as are intact cats. Then there are
animal hoarders who often stink up an entire neighborhood with the
odors from their houses/apartments and often are not really very good
to/for the animals because they simply can't cope.

Which can easily be dealt with by general health and safety regulations /
bylaws - no need at all to specifically limit the number of animals that can
be held.


All of which eventually translate into minimum area/volume per animal
or per unit weight of animal - it is a lot easier to make assumptions
about the average floor space per dwelling unit of each type and the
average size of cats and dogs than it is to define the underlying
factors in ways that make enforcement practical. Numerical limits
make for more enforacble laws.

In any case, the laws are passed in the first place not to
inconvenience responsible and caring dog owners and cat keepers, they
are passed to deal with the irresponsible and careless - there just
isn't any reasonable way to distinguish the two classes and numerical
limits help to limit the damage the bad ones can get away with.

In an ideal world, the number of pets you were allowed to keep would
be determied by your ability to keep them well and happy, and harmless
to others. We don't live there - we live in a world where, for
entirely too many people, the standard is how much harm to people,
property, and animals they can get away with.


T.E.D. )
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