ALERT: Sioux City, IA

Oct 5, 2022 | USARK Newsletter

UPDATE 10/10/22: Thank you to all Sioux City residents who contacted the City Council to voice their opposition! The new definition of “domestic animal” (which would have created the new ban on more than three of any combination of most pets) was voted down tonight. However, the City Council is still discussing pets so local residents should be sure to monitor upcoming agendas and reach out to City Council members with the request to be kept updated.

Sioux City is taking steps to severely limit the number of animals that can be owned by its residents by redefining the term domestic animal (which currently only includes dogs and cats). As redefined, it would include most animals and limit the number per household to no more than three pets in total. This ban narrowly passed its first reading (3-2) so not all Council members approve of this legislative abuse. Local residents must voice their opposition immediately as the next reading and vote are scheduled for Monday, October 10. The language is at the bottom of this page.

If passed, it would be illegal to:

  1. own more than two of a pet species;
  2. own more than three combined pets.

Sioux City already bans ownership of more than two dogs or two cats. The City also limits the total number of pets to three (i.e. two dogs and one cat or vice versa). The new ban would make more than three total pets illegal for pets other than dogs and cats, too.

The only pets excluded from this new ban would be hamsters, guinea pigs, and fish. It would be legal to have 300 hamsters but illegal to have three crested geckos or three lovebirds. Regardless of the species, the numbers assigned to these “pet limits” are completely arbitrary and capricious with no logical or scientific grounds to argue the merit. One person may responsibly and humanely care for seven dogs while another person may not be able to responsibly have one dog. The problem is isolated to the bad owners and not how many pets people have. Punishing responsible animal owners by claiming it will stop irresponsible actions by others is bad government at its finest through collective punishment.

To illustrate the absurdity, all of the below would be illegal in Sioux City:

  1. one dog, one parakeet, and two leopard geckos = illegal
  2. three canaries = illegal
  3. two cockatiels and two bearded dragons = illegal
  4. one ferret, one turtle, and two tortoises = illegal
  5. one corn snake, one parrot, and two rabbits = illegal
  6. Do you get the picture? 

Sioux City does have an Excess Domestic Animals Permit (EXAP). Currently, this permit is only available for dog and cat owners and may not be available for owners of other species. The terms of this permit are also overreaching. For instance, you must get signatures from all neighbors within 100′ of your property line stating that they approve of all of your animals. If two neighbors protest, then your permit is denied. Many, if not most, people will protest if you ask them if they approve of your three corn snakes (as some studies show that over 60% of people report having an irrational fear of snakes). Even if all neighbors approve, the permit can still be denied. A property inspection may be required during the permit process.

This is a much bigger issue than pets and it reaks of government overreach and injustice based on bias rather than logic. This type of lawmaking should upset all Americans and not just pet owners.

What to do:
Remember to be civil and professional when contacting lawmakers!
We ask that only Sioux City residents or organizations with members in Sioux City send emails.

  1. Attend the next meeting and voice your opposition, if possible.

Next City Council Meeting (agenda not yet posted):
Date: 10/10/2022 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
405 6th Street, Sioux City, Iowa 51101

2. Email the City Council.
Click here to send an email to all City Council members (scroll down to the “Contact All Council Members” form): https://www.sioux-city.org/government/city-council

3. Local residents can also call City Council members (be respectful). Phone numbers here: https://www.sioux-city.org/government/city-council

Sample email (feel free to edit)
If you are not aware, it is simple to copy/paste the below text in just a few seconds. Just do an internet search for copy/paste instructions for your device.

As a Sioux City resident, I oppose the new definition of “domestic animal” that creates an even more oppressive law against responsible pet owners. With the new definition, many good Sioux City residents will be affected since the City currently has an overreaching pet limit law. This pet limit is unjust and a form of collective punishment that does nothing to resolve real problems. The City needs to focus on bad pet owners and not infringe on my freedoms as a responsible citizen.

It is absolute injustice to tell me that I cannot own three leopard geckos or three parakeets. The new ban would also make it illegal to own a ferret, a rabbit, and two turtles. Is this really what my City officials are doing with their time and the City’s resources? Even with the Excess Domestic Animals Permit (if it is made available for species other than dogs and cats), the process is absolutely discriminatory against the owners of certain pets, including lizards and even very small nonvenomous snakes like corn snakes and milk snakes. Studies show that over 60% of people have an irrational fear of snakes. The amount of government in my Sioux City living room is frightening!

I implore the City Council to not redefine the term domestic animal, amend the current pet limit law, and to research the species currently listed as “dangerous animals” (as the current definition includes many species of harmless, nonvenomous, commonly kept pet snakes). Thank you for your time and have a good day.

YOUR NAME
Sioux City, Iowa

 


 

The proposed new definition of domestic animal in Sioux City:

11. “Domestic animal” means any animal of a species that normally is bred, raised, and is accustomed to live in or about human habitation. Domesticated animals include, but are not limited to, pets such as dogs or cats dogs, cats, snakes, lizards, rodents, rabbits, ferrets, and birds. The term shall not include hamsters, guinea pigs, or fish. The term shall also not include animals owned by the police department, animals in a zoo, or livestock.

The current pet limit law:

7.02.025 Maximum Number of Domestic Animals

  1. It shall be unlawful for an owner or caretaker of any residential unit to knowingly allow more than two (2) domestic animals of the same species or no more than three (3) domestic animals in total of any species over the age of six (6) months to be kept within the city limits.

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