Environmental Services takes steps to revise pet ordinance

Environmental Services will consider making more revisions to the city’s problematic ‘Title 7’ pet ordinance, according to a department spokeswoman.

Even after the city’s massive overhaul of Title 7 in 2011, El Paso saw a 15 percent increase in animal euthanasia rates from 2010, with more than 24,000 El Paso pets put down in a single year.

Animal Rescue League of El Paso founder, Loretta Hyde said, as it stands, Title 7 is a “joke.”

“(The ordinance) has been totally ineffective,” said Mayor John Cook during a February 2012 interview. “That’s because there’s been little opportunity for enforcement.”

Hyde said under the new directive of the Environmental Services Department, she believes the ordinance will gain traction.

“I really think (Environmental Services) has the right idea and the right criteria to implement this ordinance,” said Hyde.

The Environmental Services Department will hold a meeting to get community input regarding possible revisions to Title 7 Friday, August 31 at the City of El Paso Animal Shelter.

ABC-7 placed phone calls to Environmental Services to discuss possible revisions to the ordinance, but they were not returned before deadline.