Tulsa County Adopts New Pet Laws

Pet owners who live in Tulsa County outside city limits now must have their pets licensed through the county sheriff's office. <br/><br/>The new law took effect July 1st. It applies only to dogs and

Wednesday, July 5th 2006, 4:48 pm

By: News On 6

Pet owners who live in Tulsa County outside city limits now must have their pets licensed through the county sheriff's office.

The new law took effect July 1st. It applies only to dogs and cats.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says it's a significant change for people out in the county, who tend to have more animals than people in the city.

This new law continues the existing leash law, but adds vaccination and licensing rules for dogs and cats in the county.

Deputy David Long spends a lot of time on the road.

He's the county's animal control officer and in that role, until recently, he's really only had one law to work with.

"Tulsa County does have a leash law," says Long. "And it's been in effect since 1979."

But as of July 1st, Tulsa County has a new layer of animal control laws, requiring proof of vaccination and a limit on the number of dogs and cats at each home.

John Cornog is right at the limit. He's got 5 Chinese pugs.

"They're our babies, our pets," says Cornog.

He says he already gets all the shots his dogs need.

Cornog says, "And they're AKC registered and they're well taken care of."

But he also says he's a breeder - and to have more than five, he'll have to build pens on concrete and pay for a license.

That's the most expensive permit, at $100, but for everyone else, it's $10 per animal, per year.

The animal control ordinance takes effect as more and more homes are being built in rural areas of Tulsa County. The sheriff's office says it was designed to protect homeowners and their animal, which may be at increased risk of rabies.

"It's just for the rural areas of Tulsa County," says Long.

Deputy Long says he hopes it increases the number of animals which are vaccinated, and encourages more people to control their animals.

Long says, "We're informing, but we're also enforcing at the same time, places we've been to before, people who know, so we're enforcing also."

Pet licenses can be purchased by mail from the sheriff's office or in person.

They don't have the forms on the county website yet, but say they will be there within a few days.