POLO – The Polo City Council has made several updates to its animal control laws, with changes impacting livestock and dangerous animals. The new rules now prohibit farm animals, including cattle, hogs, and poultry, from roaming freely within city limits.
Mayor Mark Scholl opened up a discussion about allowing chickens, mentioning how other area communities have set up laws regarding poultry, including only allowing them at single resident households, a population of only up to 6 hens, and no roosters.
A couple residents spoke up in favor of chickens, but Polo City Attorney Thomas Suits noted that the eggs could not be sold per city zoning.
Mayor Scholl noted that thought there might have been more support for chickens Monday night.
“I was disappointed there wasn’t a better turnout for those that supported the chickens,” he said. “If somebody would come up and have a good case for it, I’d be a little more apt to understand why they would want chickens and possibly put it back on the agenda.”
City officials are also now allowed to enter private property to capture stray or dangerous animals, especially those suspected of having rabies. New provisions for dangerous dogs require owners to pay impoundment fees, follow stricter confinement guidelines, and get a special permit. Animals without proper identification will be held longer before being put up for adoption, and fines will be issued for violations of the new rules.