UPDATE 6/18: Thanks to a HUGE turnout, including USARK President Phil Goss, the Borough Council voted NO to this ordinance! Thank you to all residents who contacted the Council to voice their opposition and concerns. The Council was certainly aware of the outrage prior to the meeting. We will post updates if another ordinance is proposed but the message was made very clear to the West Mifflin Council that local pet owners will not stand for arbitrary pet limits and overreach. It was an irrational approach that would not stop isolated problems.
UPDATE 6/13/24: A new draft is now linked (see below), but not much has changed. All “animals” (see definition) are still banned. Only “pets” (see limited definition) will be allowed. Per the definitions, many species, including all reptiles and amphibians, most small mammals, non-domesticated fish, etc., will be banned. Any species that the Borough does not consider “domestic” will be banned. Pet limits for dogs, cats, and birds still apply.
UPDATE 6/13: media article: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/west-mifflin-borough-considering-putting-limit-on-pets-per-household/
MEETING: June 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 1020 Lebanon Road, West Mifflin, PA 15122
West Mifflin has proposed an ordinance that seeks to ban almost all “animals” and also has limits for dogs, cats, and birds. See definitions and explanations below.
Local animal owners must attend, voice their opposition, and contribute to the process. Remember to be civil and professional, as lawmakers may be unaware of how poorly this is written and the unintended consequences.
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“It shall be unlawful for any person/owner in the Borough to house, keep or maintain any animals or pets in or on any structure, living unit or unimproved land in the Borough, except as is provided hereinafter.” This means that all “animals” (see definition below) are banned and some “pets” have limits. Only listed and “domestic” (we prefer domesticated) animals are considered to be pets, which means most species of pets will be banned. Even non-domesticated aquarium fish would be banned (i.e., most fish that are not goldfish or koi).
- There is a limit of one bird per “living unit.” (i.e. house)
- There is a limit of three dogs and five combined dogs and cats.
- Horses are allowed with restrictions.
- Honey bees are allowed with restrictions.
- “Animals”: shall mean any living thing that moves but is not human, i.e., including but not limited to, fowl, cows, swine, reptiles, sheep, monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars, leopards, jaguars, non-domesticated cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, non-domesticated dogs, bears, venomous snakes and constrictor snakes, alligators, crocodiles, porcupines, weasels, badgers, elephants, hyenas, hippopotamuses, giraffes, camels, cattle, cows, hogs, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, raccoons, kangaroos, opossums, rhinoceroses, anteaters, sloths, armadillos, mongooses, skunks, venomous lizards, emus, llamas, alpacas, etc., but excluding “Pets”.
- “Pets”: shall mean common domestic household animals including but not limited to: cats, dogs, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.
Read the proposal at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/24-west-mifflin-PA2.pdf.
For West Mifflin residents only, you can send a version of the below letter, especially if you cannot attend the meeting. However, as many people as possible should be there to voice their opposition and educate the lawmakers.
Email list: BKamauf@westmifflin.gov, CKelly@WestMifflinBorough.com, banthony@westmifflinborough.com, HSpicuzza@westmifflinborough.com, ssebastian@westmifflin.gov
Email subject line: Opposition to Animal Ordinance Amendments
Sample Letter (remember to be civil and professional)
West Mifflin Mayor Kelly, Council Members, and Staff,
As a West Mifflin resident and responsible animal owner, I am distraught with the proposed animal ordinance. While I understand and appreciate the intent, the draft ordinance is rife with unintended consequences and is extremely unreasonable. While I hope this is not the true intent, as drafted, the ordinance will ban almost all animals in the borough, including many common pet species.
If you are unaware, over 5% of U.S. households have pet reptiles and amphibians, but these species are not considered to be domesticated, so they do not qualify as “pets” under this proposal. Additionally, all reptiles are included in the definition of “animal,” and “animals” are banned with no exceptions. The ordinance clearly bans constrictor snakes even though hundreds of thousands of U.S. homes have pet corn snakes, milk snakes, sand boas, ball pythons, and more, all of which are harmless, nonvenomous constrictor snakes. Tortoises, lizards, leopard geckos, bearded dragons, turtles, and more are common pets but are classified and banned as “animals” under this proposal. Surely, this overreach is not what the Council seeks to do.
Additionally, many small mammals that are not considered domesticated would be banned, and owning more than one bird is prohibited. It is common for people to have more than one canary, finch, cockatiel, or other pet bird. Even worse, there is no grandfathering provision! People will need to euthanize, surrender, or rehome their beloved pets.
Please reconsider this proposal and do more research. Thank you for your time, and have a good day.
YOUR NAME
West Mifflin resident
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF WEST MIFFLIN BOROUGH:
Take Notice that at a regular meeting of Borough Council of West Mifflin Borough to be held on the 18th day of June, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 1020 Lebanon Road, West Mifflin, PA 15122, Borough Council will consider a proposed Ordinance prohibiting animals from being kept on real estate in the Borough. Exceptions are provided for kennels, pets and horses. At said time and place you are invited to attend and to take such part as you see fit. – Brian Kamauf, Borough Manager
