What You Need to Know About Edina’s Dog Rules

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By Echo Menges

 

EDINA, Mo. — If you live in Edina and you have a dog, cat, or any kind of pet, the city has some important rules to help keep animals, people, and neighborhoods safe. This year the Edina City Council has fielded a number of complaints concerning the dog ordinance. Here’s a simple guide to help everyone understand the basics — even kids.

Pets Can’t Roam Around Alone

Your dog or cat can’t just walk around town by itself. Pets have to stay in your yard, on a leash, or with someone holding onto them. If your pet runs loose, it might get picked up by the police or animal control and taken to the animal shelter.

 

You Need a Pet Tag

If your dog or cat is older than 3 months, you have to get a permit from the city. It costs $2 a year. The city gives you a tag that goes on your pet’s collar. That way, if your pet gets lost, people know who it belongs to.

 

Barking Too Much Is a Problem

If your dog barks all day and night and bothers the neighbors, that’s called being a “nuisance.” The city can give you a warning or fine, and if it keeps happening, you could lose your permit to keep your dog.

 

Some Dogs Have Extra Rules

If you have a pit bull or a rottweiler, or a dog that looks like one, there are special rules. You can only keep those dogs in Edina if you already had them before the law went into effect. These dogs must:

-Stay inside or in a strong, locked pen
-Be on a short leash and wear a muzzle if outside
-Have a warning sign in the yard
-Be covered by special insurance in case something goes wrong

 

You Must Be Kind to Animals

You have to give your pets good food, clean water, shelter, and take them to the vet if they’re sick. You’re not allowed to hurt them or leave them behind. Pets need proper care just like people do.

 

If a Dog Bites Someone

If a dog bites a person or another pet, it may need to stay at the vet or animal shelter for 10 days to make sure it doesn’t have rabies. The owner has to pay for this, and may not get the dog back until the quarantine is over.

 

If You Break the Rules

If you don’t follow the rules, you could face a fine from $35 to $500. If the problem continues, each day it goes unfixed could count as a new fine.

Here’s how some of the fines and fees work:

-If your pet runs loose, you could get a $35 ticket. If you pay it within 72 hours, that’s all you owe. If you don’t, you might have to go to court and pay more.
-If your pet is taken to the shelter, you’ll need to pay $25 to reclaim them, plus $10 for each day they were kept.
-If your pet needed a tranquilizer to be caught, you’ll also owe $25 for that.
-You could also be charged for things like rabies shots or emergency care.
-If the city finds out you’re mistreating your pet or breaking the rules more than once, they can take away your permit — and you might not be allowed to get another one for a whole year.

 

The Bottom Line

If you live in Edina and have a pet, keep it safe, keep it home, and take good care of it. That way, your neighbors, your pet — and you — will all be happier.