Houlton enacts ordinance on pets Measure requires owners of animals to clean up public, private waste

HOULTON – Although one town councilor pegged it as a “joke,” the panel voted on Monday evening to enact an ordinance that will force animal owners to take care of the waste that their pets leave behind in their travels.

The new edict mandates that owners remove and dispose of waste left by their pets on public or private property. It also orders owners and sponsors of horses or other livestock shown at town-authorized parades, carnivals, circuses or civic sponsored events to remove manure from town streets, sidewalks, parks or public grounds.

The regulation does not apply to a dog accompanying any handicapped person who is physically unable to comply with the ordinance. It also does not affect residents who are riding horses as a means of transportation through town.

Another section of the ordinance makes it unlawful for any dog owner to allow the animal to demonstrate “aggressive or intimidating behavior” at a public event.

Councilors first took action on the matter last month, after Town Manager Douglas Hazlett told panelists that officials had received numerous calls from residents who were frustrated with people who did not clean up after their animals.

Although many members felt that the decree was a good idea, Councilor Paul Cleary saw things differently.

“Once again we are putting something on the books that we can’t enforce,” he said Monday evening, adding that the town is currently without an animal control officer and funds the position only on a part-time basis. “This will be unenforceable or hard to enforce. … I just think it is a joke.”

The animal control officer position has been vacant for more than two months, Hazlett said at the meeting. Officials are seeking a candidate to fill the slot.

Cleary also told fellow board members that he felt that the ordinance should apply to those riding through town on horseback.

While Councilor Paul Romanelli said that the new mandate was a good idea, he agreed that the town needed an ACO to give the law some teeth.

“On any given day, you see 10 dogs running around town and we still do not have an animal control officer to address the situation,” he said. “If we pass this, we’ve got to have an ACO to enforce it.”

Until an animal officer is found, the Houlton Police Department has the authority to enforce the ordinance.

Violators of the newly enacted law will be fined $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and an additional $50 for each offense after that.