Las Cruces City Councilors made changes to the Animal Control Ordinance last November and adopted a new fee structure associated with the ordinance just last month.
The updated ordinance now requires feral cat colonies to be registered with the city. The ordinance also allows for chickens and ducks to be raised within city limits, and domesticated pets must now be micro-chipped under the new ordinance.
- Feral cat colonies: Las Cruces residents may manage a feral cat colony (enclosed or unenclosed) but they must register the colony with Animal Control, and have all cats registered, vaccinated and sterilized. The feral cat colony fee is $50 annually with a $10 one-time application fee.
- Chickens or ducks: Las Cruces residents can now obtain a special permit to raise up to six chickens or ducks within city limits. Roosters, drakes (male ducks) and geese are not included in the new ordinance and are not permitted within city limits. The special permit to raise chicken or ducks is $15 annually with a $10 one-time application fee.
- Micro-chips: Domesticated pets must be registered and micro-chipped. Previously, residents of Las Cruces had to register their pets but now they must also micro-chip their dogs and cats. The annual fee for registering each intact, or non-sterile, pet is $50. The fee is $7 for each sterile pet. Residents 65 or older will be charged only $5 for each sterile pet and there is no annual charge for qualified service animals.
The full ordinance and fee structure can be seen on the “Codes, Animal Control & KLCB” link atwww.CLCPD.com.
City residents with questions on the Animal Control Ordinance, or in need of obtaining a permit, may call Las Cruces Animal Control at (575) 528-4100.
Information from city of Las Cruces