Brookings city councilors have decided that citizens here cannot keep more than six pets in their residences at one time. Its creators say the pet limit is a new tool to help authorities deal with animal-related complaints. That new regulation is among several changes to Brookings animal control requirements, approved by city councilors on Tuesday. While City Manager Jeff Weldon called most of the alterations minor, a few "significant policy changes" were approved as well. Weldon said they were suggested with the help of Brookings Police Chief Bryan Gums and city ani-Duane Walburg.

The recently passed Ordinance No. 32-08 makes it unlawful for any person or caretaker to have or keep more than six domestic pets over the age of 4 months (except birds and fish) on any lot or premises in the city. The only planned exception to that rule is for veterinarians and any person with a valid shelter or kennel license issued by the city. City staff had a first suggested a four-animal limit, but Weldon this week proposed raising the number. "We have had quite a bit of discussion about that issue, and I talked to Duane (Walburg) about that, and he did a survey of other communities. "¦ I would like you to consider, after talking to a number of people in the community , that we loosen that up just a bit and change that to six pets per household over the age of 4 months.

"I just think it's best to be less restrictive rather than be more restrictive if we don't have to be. I think six is an acceptable number; I think seven is excessive. It's kind of a judgment call on where that should be, but I think four is maybe a little too much." Change still possible

Weldon added that if officials think they need to bring the number down from six, councilors can later change the ordinance with an amendment.

In the past, residents with too many animals have been asked to get their pet numbers down or face fines for not having the animals vaccinated and registered with the city.

Walburg has said that he would not go door-to-door checking on residences to police the new animal limit. The number of animals within households would be evaluated on a by-complaint basis, he explained, and in a memo to city councilors, Gums agreed. Help with 'at-large' animals

The new ordinance will be helpful when city officials get complaints about barking dogs or a strong smell of animal feces at a residence, the chief wrote.

Another complaint the department has dealt with is a high number of "at-large" cats in one neighborhood , allowed to roam free, defecate in sandboxes, yards and gardens and get into garbage cans.

"This ordinance would be a very useful tool in these and other instances. "¦ As long as there are no complaints, there are no problems to address. Most people take very good care of their pets. "¦ This ordinance would only be used to assist is with the problem residences," Gums said. The new ordinance also:

- Makes it an offense to keep stray animals

- Makes it an offense to leave pets unattended in vehicle in a manner that endangers the health of the animal (For example, leaving a pet in a hot, parked vehicle without proper ventilation to the point that the animal could die.)

- Makes it a requirement for animals in vehicles that are parked in public areas to be confined to the vehicle (This change prevents pet owners or caretakers from leaving large dogs unattended in the back of open-box pickup trucks where the animals can reach beyond the edge of the truck.)

The ordinance includes a new section that deals with vicious or biting dogs. Once a pet has been declared a biting, dangerous or vicious animal by officials, the owner will have to register it with the city as such and follow certain regulations, like reporting how and where it's kept and its health and ownership status.

Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.