The Live Oak City Council and law enforcement officials are tired of an animal control ordinance that is all bark and no bite. In a police committee meeting last week, council members and LOPD officials discussed the need to update the ordinance that regulates animals in the city.

“We’ve got animals roaming the streets and breeding at will,” said Councilman Don Boyette. “That’s got to come to a stop.”

“We’ve got an animal control officer not doing her job. Now we go and hire a part-time officer to help the full-time officer not do her job,” he said.

Animal control officer Sally Roman came under fire at a police committee meeting in January for not doing enough to take stray and abandoned pets off the streets. In response, LOPD Chief Buddy Williams set more specific guidelines for Roman to follow. Also, the city recently hired a part-time officer, Marsha Grand, to assist Roman at the shelter.

Williams and LOPD Lt. Joe Daly spoke in defense of Roman and Grand.

“I don’t feel the animal control officers should be blamed for this problem,” said Daly.

Both law enforcement officials agree that the shelter needs two officers to handle the workload.

“The animal control officer answers about 1,406 calls per year — about the same as the police answer,” said Williams.

Boyette and Councilman John Hale said that since Williams has taken over as police chief the issue with stray and abandoned pets has improved.

Williams said City Attorney David Robertson will review the current ordinance to add “some teeth.”

He said in addition to revising the ordinance, the committee is considering a spay and neuter program and providing the community education materials about the issue.

Boyette said Monday officials want to see stiffer fines written into the animal ordinance. Currently, when an animal is impounded, animal control will hold it up to 72 hours. Owners must pay a fee of $7 per day to get the animal back.

Boyette said he would like to see owners charged $50 the first day, $35 the second day and $25 the third day.

“The only way to get the message out is to hit them in the pocketbook,” he said.

“I think we’re getting a handle on it,” he added.