Animal Control in Anchorage, Alaska: Cats and Dogs Deserve Fair and Equal Treatment,” a Report Prepared by a Member of Our Commission
MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE Planning Department Phone: 907-343-7921 Long-Range Planning Division Fax: 907-343-7927 Mayor Ethan Berkowitz WATERSHED & NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMISSION December 20, 2019 Animal Control Advisory Board Municipality of Anchorage P.O. Box 196650 Anchorage, AK 99519-6650 Dear Board Members: Cats are now the most numerous household pets in the Municipality of Anchorage, a reflection of national trends. However, for several reasons, cats and cat owners are not held to the same standards as dogs or dog owners. Other pets, such as rabbits and ferrets, are also treated somewhat differently, with little or no justification. We hope to engage your board in a collaborative effort to rectify this imbalance. In our advisory capacities, we have overlapping responsibilities with regard to pets and their impacts on people and the natural environment. Anchorage’s Animal Control Advisory Board is a key player in municipal and state efforts to care for and control domestic pets, particularly those concerning the health, welfare, and safety of animals and people in our community. Some of the principal concerns of the board include (1) strategic planning, enforcement, public education, prioritizing capital needs, and increasing the number of pets adopted, claimed, rescued and housed; (2) reviewing and making recommendations on municipal ordinances related to animals; and (3) promoting safe and healthy use of public spaces by pets and pet owners. Anchorage’s Watershed & Natural Resources Advisory Commission serves as a technical liaison between municipal departments, the community, and state and federal agencies that manage water quality, watersheds and natural resources. The principal concerns of our commission include (1) sustaining the economic and community benefits of healthy creeks, watersheds and natural habitats; (2) restoring and improving fish and wildlife habitat; and (3) increasing community stewardship of aquatic and other natural resources within the Municipality.
[Show full text]