There has been an uptick in the number of impounded animals by the City of Ardmore.

During the month of September, Animal Control reported 221 complaints received and 189 animals impounded. In the past week, the department’s standard has come under a spotlight with concerns posted on social media about the department confiscating dogs.

Community Development Director Jessica Scott said in the past year, the City of Ardmore has impounded animals from three private property residences.

“The City of Ardmore will only take an animal from a private residence if the animal is neglected, abused or in cases of animal cruelty,” she said.

Even in cases where that criterion is met, an animal is not immediately removed. Instead, a notice is posted. The city will feed and water the animal and post a sign on the door giving 24 hours for the resident to contact the city to resolve the situation. That covers situations in which somebody does actually live at a residence where an animal was reported abandoned or they are off on vacation, and someone is coming over to care for the animal.

“But if nobody calls us within that 24 hours, and we go back and the dogs are still in that same condition, we impound them and take them back to the shelter,” Scott said.

In the three cases in which animals were impounded from a residence, the first involved residents that had moved out of a mobile home, abandoning four dogs and three cats. The animals were able to enter and leave the residence, which was ultimately condemned.

In the second case, there was a complaint that a dog in the front yard did not have food or water. A welfare check confirmed the concern, and a notice was posted with no call received within 24 hours.

As the city impounded the dog, Animal Control officers heard another dog inside the residence. There were padlocks on the doors. A window was opened, at which point the dog jumped out of the residence. There was additional barking and once entry was made, two more dogs were found in a residence with dog excrement covering the floors.

“In this house, there was no water left out for the dogs, no food or water anywhere in the house for them,” Scott said.

A piano had been placed in front of the door because the dogs had attempted to chew a hole through the door to get out. The dogs were taken to the veterinarian and then to the shelter.

The third incident involved Animal Control removing dogs from a residence twice. Acting on complaints, officers found three dogs with no food or water with short leashes. A person at the residence told an officer they had no money for dog food at that moment. The dogs were fed and watered and a post was left. The dogs were impounded on the next visit and released the next day by the Animal Shelter.

Scott said the city once again received complaints, and on the return visit discovered three additional dogs with no food and water. All six were impounded with a city court date issued.

In each case, there has been documentation complete with pictures and body cam footage.

There have also been instances where animals were impounded when criminal charges are being made. In one instance, 37 cats and two dogs were removed from a property.

Enforcing ordinances

In the last week, the Ardmore Animal Care posted a public service announcement in which it stated the increase in impounded animals was hitting the shelter hard. It also warned people that if a dog was loose in their unfenced front yard, they could be warned, ticketed and it could be brought to the shelter, if they were present or not. Scott said that was not true.

In regard to the increase in impounded animals, Scott said ordinance changes were requested by Ardmore Animal Care that has led to the increase. It has been over a year since the trust reached out to the city and requested the city update its ordinances, making them stricter to hold people accountable for the way animals are treated.

“We responded to their request,” Scott said. “We got with our city attorney, and we initiated some new ordinances at their behest.

“Yes, we have brought in a lot more dogs. Our officers respond to complaints. We are complaint driven.”

While Animal Control is complaint driven when it comes to animals on people’s property, Scott said if there is an animal at large, it will be picked up. If officers can take it back home, they will and if not, it is taken to the shelter.

She encouraged people to register their pets with the city, which would make it easier to return to their owner if found at-large. Registration is free. For additional information on pet registration, call 580-223-1212.