Dumping a pet by leaving it at the pound would have a financial consequence under a plan that received the initial OK of the Fort Dodge City Council Monday.

This plan would apply to cases in which the animal control officer catches a dog or cat running at large and the owner is identified, but refuses to come and get the animal.

It is a situation that animal control officers and the staff at Pups and Paws Pound are seeing more often.

According to information presented to the City Council Monday, six dogs came into the Pups and Paws Pound last week. The owners of three of them were identified, but refused to come and get them.

The measure before the council Monday creates the offense of abandonment of an animal.

It states, “It is unlawful for a person who owns or has custody of a cat or dog to relinquish all rights in and duties to care for the cat or dog.”

There are three exceptions:

• Giving the pet to a person who willingly accepts it.

• Giving the pet to an animal shelter licensed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

• Trapping, neutering and releasing stray cats.

Violating the abandonment law would be a municipal infraction, according to City Manager David Fierke. He said being convicted of a municipal infraction would result in a fine of up to $750 for the first offense and up to $1,000 on second and subsequent offenses.

He said the city would also seek to recoup its expenses for picking up the animal and housing it in the pound.

“I think this ordinance is a great first step,” said Mayor Matt Bemrich.

He said that other cities that have implemented similar laws have seen a reduction in people dumping pets.

Councilman Quennel McCaleb was absent from the otherwise unanimous vote to approve the first reading of the measure.

It must be approved two more times to become law.