101 Front Street South, PO Box 550, Barnesville, MN 56514 Phone: 218-354-2281 Email: policedept@barnesvillemn.com
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Do you have to license your pets with the city every year?
A. The short answer – yes. This may be one of the most misunderstood animal ordinances. Some citizens aren’t aware that their pets need a city pet license. Others who do license sometimes misunderstand that pet licenses expire and are no longer valid beyond a certain date. Pet licenses are good January through December of the year listed on the tag.
City ordinance requires dogs and cats over 6 months of age to have a city license which testify that the pet owner provided proof of current rabies vaccination.
A city pet license can be obtained for a minimal fee - $5 for de-sexed pets and $10 for intact pets and are available at City Hall, the Police Department or the Barnesville Animal Care Clinic.
Q. I’m told my indoor-only cat needs to be vaccinated for rabies. Why?
A. First of all, rabies vaccines are required by law for all cats and dogs over the age of six months.
But more importantly, rabies is simply too serious of a disease to lightly recommend against vaccination. In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) received three times more reports of rabid cats than rabid dogs. Rabies is passed on through the saliva of a rabid animal via bite or scratch. But it is possible to be infected with the disease from rabid saliva through immediate contact to mucous membrane or broken skin.
Rabid animals don't behave like normal animals - sometimes they're overly friendly, extremely shy, lethargic or abnormally aggressive. Stories have been reported of rabid raccoons breaking through screens and coming indoors or bats, which have a higher incidence of rabies, finding their way indoors, even through small cracks. Technically, any warm-blooded animal can get rabies.
Can anyone 100% guarantee that an indoor-only cat will not sneak outdoors on a rare occasion or even escape a vehicle after an accident?
There are expensive and painful series of shots available for humans that can prevent disease after rabies exposure, if done in a timely manner, but no such prevention exists for unvaccinated animals.
And finally, if an unvaccinated cat would bite a human - once again, no cat owner can 100% guarantee that this would never happen –there would be quarantines, costly fines, vet fees and possible euthanization for the cat, not to mention undue stress, pain and anxiety to the bite victim.
While the number of deaths in the United States is very low, about 50,000 people die worldwide from rabies each year. All of this can be avoided by simply vaccinating. The Barnesville Vet offers a vaccination clinic each year making the cost of rabies vaccination easily affordable. So an ounce of prevention really IS worth a pound of cure!
Q. I don’t have a fenced yard. Can I let my pets roam off property?
A. No. All dogs and cats must not roam off property unless accompanied by an owner, whether on leash or off (provided an owner of suitable age can maintain total control of pet with voice command alone). It is our experience that owners, able to control a pet through voice command alone, are rare, and we highly stress keeping your pet on a leash when off property!
Pets that roam off property compromise their own safety and are a nuisance and threat to the safety of other humans and pets, as well.
Pets that roam off property often use other property for their personal bathrooms. If a pet defecates on private property not their own, it is the responsibility of the owner to immediately clean up after them. This includes all public property, such as parks, roadways, sidewalks, boulevards, parking lots, etc.
Pets that roam off property can be captured for impound and owners subject to fines and/or citations.
Q. My neighbor’s barking dog is driving me crazy. What can I do?
A. Of all the complaints regarding pets, this is the one that seems to try people’s patience the most. If someone has been listening to a dog barking for a long period of time, and is not able to address it with the neighbor directly, or the neighbor is not at home, they should report the barking to the Police Department Animal Control – 354-2281.
City ordinance states: It is unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat to: 1. Permit such animal to habitually bark, cry, whimper, howl, whine, or emit any other loud or unusual noises;
If any pet is outdoors and makes a lot of noise for an extended amount of time, it is advised to bring them indoors or take other measures to ensure that the pet stay quiet. Complaints of dogs that bark habitually can result in the impoundment of the dog and/or a citation.
Q. Our dog got loose and we’ve looked everywhere but still can’t find him. Can you help?
A. Yes, we often can! Many people don’t realize that they can call the Police Department’s Animal Control when a pet goes missing. While it is still the pet owner’s responsibility to actively search for their lost pet, it always helps to have an extra pair of eyes on the look out. If an officer sees an animal matching the pet’s description, they will try to capture the pet and then notify the owner. Or if a citizen picks up the pet and calls the Police, they Police will, in turn, know who to contact.
When capturing a dog or cat that is running at large, (provided there’s been not been prior notification from the pet owner), the general procedure of Animal Control is to place the animal in the Animal Impound Facility. Animal Control will then post a picture flyer in several locations around town in an attempt to locate the owner. If an owner does not come forward, the City’s policy is to hold the animal for 5 days only
Please bear in mind that the Animal Impound Facility is not a boarding kennel. It is simply a temporary holding place. And while it is not mandated by City policy, many times attempts are made to adopt out an unclaimed animal if it appears to be a good candidate for another home.
The Impound Facility is located off of Main Avenue on the West end of town, just behind the large green, City Shop.
Q. Is there a good place in town to let my pet run free off leash?
A. Yes! There are actually 2 areas in town designated for just such a purpose. 1) The Animal Impound Facility, mentioned above, has a fenced yard that is available (“Sampson’s Fence”) and free for use to all dog owners, as long as dog owners are willing to supervise and clean up after their dog. 2) At 612 3rd St. S. E. there is a fenced area that is used for ice skating in the winter but is available to run dogs in the other times of the year.
Q. There is a stray cat the keeps showing up in my yard. I feel sorry for it and have been feeding it. Is that ok?
A. We understand wanting to provide food and water for a stray cat, particularly if it appears to be friendly. No one likes the thought of an animal starving. But in these instances, it is best not to keep feeding a stray, unless a person is willing to take that cat permanently into their home, care for, spay/neuter, vaccinate and license it. Also, stray animals may have diseases and contact with them could prove dangerous.
Stray cats can often be or become feral. A feral cat is generally a wild cat that is not easily domesticated, if at all. Feral cats can pass on rabies and disease. A feral cat reproduces more feral cats and is a nuisance and danger to domesticated pets and people. It is never a good idea to have wild and unvaccinated dogs or cats roaming a community.
Q. My neighbor’s dog bit my son but the bite did not break the skin. Should I report it?
A. Yes. It is understandable to want to keep the peace between neighbors but a dog that bites is dangerous for the community. Even if the bite does not result in a break in the skin, it is important to have the bite documented with the Animal Control Department.
Sometimes, the victim of a dog bite does not realize that the suspect dog may have been involved in previous bites and / or aggressive acts against people or other animals. Single or multiple aggressive reported incidents can help us determine whether or not the dog will be deemed potentially dangerous, or even given a dangerous label, by the city. If this happens, there are certain regulations the dog owner must adhere to in order to ensure the continued safety of the community.
Q. I feel sorry for a dog in my area that is left outdoors for long periods of time in the cold and the heat. What can I do?
A. Please don’t hesitate to call the Police Department Animal Control with any concerns for animal welfare. Dog owners, in particular, are mandated by City ordinance, to provide adequate shelter, food and water for a dog that is to be left outdoors for an extended amount of time. Keep in mind that some dog breeds can withstand colder or hotter temperatures than other breeds but when in doubt, call. It’s better to be overly concerned than not at all.
ANIMAL ADOPTIONS
Please note: If anyone is interested in adopting a cat or dog,
please check with the Barnesville Police Animal Control.
Sometimes a dog or cat is impounded and never claimed.
Q. Do you have to license your pets with the city every year?
A. The short answer – yes. This may be one of the most misunderstood animal ordinances. Some citizens aren’t aware that their pets need a city pet license. Others who do license sometimes misunderstand that pet licenses expire and are no longer valid beyond a certain date. Pet licenses are good January through December of the year listed on the tag.
City ordinance requires dogs and cats over 6 months of age to have a city license which testify that the pet owner provided proof of current rabies vaccination.
A city pet license can be obtained for a minimal fee - $5 for de-sexed pets and $10 for intact pets and are available at City Hall, the Police Department or the Barnesville Animal Care Clinic.
Q. I’m told my indoor-only cat needs to be vaccinated for rabies. Why?
A. First of all, rabies vaccines are required by law for all cats and dogs over the age of six months.
But more importantly, rabies is simply too serious of a disease to lightly recommend against vaccination. In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) received three times more reports of rabid cats than rabid dogs. Rabies is passed on through the saliva of a rabid animal via bite or scratch. But it is possible to be infected with the disease from rabid saliva through immediate contact to mucous membrane or broken skin.
Rabid animals don't behave like normal animals - sometimes they're overly friendly, extremely shy, lethargic or abnormally aggressive. Stories have been reported of rabid raccoons breaking through screens and coming indoors or bats, which have a higher incidence of rabies, finding their way indoors, even through small cracks. Technically, any warm-blooded animal can get rabies.
Can anyone 100% guarantee that an indoor-only cat will not sneak outdoors on a rare occasion or even escape a vehicle after an accident?
There are expensive and painful series of shots available for humans that can prevent disease after rabies exposure, if done in a timely manner, but no such prevention exists for unvaccinated animals.
And finally, if an unvaccinated cat would bite a human - once again, no cat owner can 100% guarantee that this would never happen –there would be quarantines, costly fines, vet fees and possible euthanization for the cat, not to mention undue stress, pain and anxiety to the bite victim.
While the number of deaths in the United States is very low, about 50,000 people die worldwide from rabies each year. All of this can be avoided by simply vaccinating. The Barnesville Vet offers a vaccination clinic each year making the cost of rabies vaccination easily affordable. So an ounce of prevention really IS worth a pound of cure!
Q. I don’t have a fenced yard. Can I let my pets roam off property?
A. No. All dogs and cats must not roam off property unless accompanied by an owner, whether on leash or off (provided an owner of suitable age can maintain total control of pet with voice command alone). It is our experience that owners, able to control a pet through voice command alone, are rare, and we highly stress keeping your pet on a leash when off property!
Pets that roam off property compromise their own safety and are a nuisance and threat to the safety of other humans and pets, as well.
Pets that roam off property often use other property for their personal bathrooms. If a pet defecates on private property not their own, it is the responsibility of the owner to immediately clean up after them. This includes all public property, such as parks, roadways, sidewalks, boulevards, parking lots, etc.
Pets that roam off property can be captured for impound and owners subject to fines and/or citations.
Q. My neighbor’s barking dog is driving me crazy. What can I do?
A. Of all the complaints regarding pets, this is the one that seems to try people’s patience the most. If someone has been listening to a dog barking for a long period of time, and is not able to address it with the neighbor directly, or the neighbor is not at home, they should report the barking to the Police Department Animal Control – 354-2281.
City ordinance states: It is unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat to: 1. Permit such animal to habitually bark, cry, whimper, howl, whine, or emit any other loud or unusual noises;
If any pet is outdoors and makes a lot of noise for an extended amount of time, it is advised to bring them indoors or take other measures to ensure that the pet stay quiet. Complaints of dogs that bark habitually can result in the impoundment of the dog and/or a citation.
Q. Our dog got loose and we’ve looked everywhere but still can’t find him. Can you help?
A. Yes, we often can! Many people don’t realize that they can call the Police Department’s Animal Control when a pet goes missing. While it is still the pet owner’s responsibility to actively search for their lost pet, it always helps to have an extra pair of eyes on the look out. If an officer sees an animal matching the pet’s description, they will try to capture the pet and then notify the owner. Or if a citizen picks up the pet and calls the Police, they Police will, in turn, know who to contact.
When capturing a dog or cat that is running at large, (provided there’s been not been prior notification from the pet owner), the general procedure of Animal Control is to place the animal in the Animal Impound Facility. Animal Control will then post a picture flyer in several locations around town in an attempt to locate the owner. If an owner does not come forward, the City’s policy is to hold the animal for 5 days only
Please bear in mind that the Animal Impound Facility is not a boarding kennel. It is simply a temporary holding place. And while it is not mandated by City policy, many times attempts are made to adopt out an unclaimed animal if it appears to be a good candidate for another home.
The Impound Facility is located off of Main Avenue on the West end of town, just behind the large green, City Shop.
Q. Is there a good place in town to let my pet run free off leash?
A. Yes! There are actually 2 areas in town designated for just such a purpose. 1) The Animal Impound Facility, mentioned above, has a fenced yard that is available (“Sampson’s Fence”) and free for use to all dog owners, as long as dog owners are willing to supervise and clean up after their dog. 2) At 612 3rd St. S. E. there is a fenced area that is used for ice skating in the winter but is available to run dogs in the other times of the year.
Q. There is a stray cat the keeps showing up in my yard. I feel sorry for it and have been feeding it. Is that ok?
A. We understand wanting to provide food and water for a stray cat, particularly if it appears to be friendly. No one likes the thought of an animal starving. But in these instances, it is best not to keep feeding a stray, unless a person is willing to take that cat permanently into their home, care for, spay/neuter, vaccinate and license it. Also, stray animals may have diseases and contact with them could prove dangerous.
Stray cats can often be or become feral. A feral cat is generally a wild cat that is not easily domesticated, if at all. Feral cats can pass on rabies and disease. A feral cat reproduces more feral cats and is a nuisance and danger to domesticated pets and people. It is never a good idea to have wild and unvaccinated dogs or cats roaming a community.
Q. My neighbor’s dog bit my son but the bite did not break the skin. Should I report it?
A. Yes. It is understandable to want to keep the peace between neighbors but a dog that bites is dangerous for the community. Even if the bite does not result in a break in the skin, it is important to have the bite documented with the Animal Control Department.
Sometimes, the victim of a dog bite does not realize that the suspect dog may have been involved in previous bites and / or aggressive acts against people or other animals. Single or multiple aggressive reported incidents can help us determine whether or not the dog will be deemed potentially dangerous, or even given a dangerous label, by the city. If this happens, there are certain regulations the dog owner must adhere to in order to ensure the continued safety of the community.
Q. I feel sorry for a dog in my area that is left outdoors for long periods of time in the cold and the heat. What can I do?
A. Please don’t hesitate to call the Police Department Animal Control with any concerns for animal welfare. Dog owners, in particular, are mandated by City ordinance, to provide adequate shelter, food and water for a dog that is to be left outdoors for an extended amount of time. Keep in mind that some dog breeds can withstand colder or hotter temperatures than other breeds but when in doubt, call. It’s better to be overly concerned than not at all.
ANIMAL ADOPTIONS
Please note: If anyone is interested in adopting a cat or dog,
please check with the Barnesville Police Animal Control.
Sometimes a dog or cat is impounded and never claimed.
