The Davis County Animal Shelter is over capacity due to increased numbers of strays and owner surrenders. Meanwhile, Layton City is only allowing two pets per household (including a combination of cats and dogs), regardless of whether they are rescues, well-behaved, and well-cared-for by their owners. The city should be encouraging the proper care and stewardship of companion animals, rather than focusing on enforcing a strict number that is less than the county limit of 3 (if one is a rescue). Restricting pet ownership to two is leaving many animals in the shelters when they would otherwise have loving homes if legally permitted. This also puts stress on the rescue groups, as they have limited capacity and could be focusing efforts on saving companion animals from high-kill shelters instead. Layton needs to do its part to help alleviate the problem. 

A July 16, 2019, Fox 13 article about the shelter being over-capacity can be read here: "Davis County shelter completely full after seeing spike in animals"

Layton City's current pet ordinances are as follows:

"How many household pets are legal in Layton City?

Household pets are limited to the keeping of not more than two dogs or cats, or combination thereof, four months old or older. In other words, a household can have one cat and one dog; or two cats; or two dogs; but nothing exceeding the two quantity number; except as noted below. For example, having a kennel license would increase the numbers. Also, in addition to the two permitted animals, one seeing-eye, search and rescue, or other aid dog may be allowed under certain circumstances." (laytoncity.org)

Davis County allows a combination of 3 cats and dogs if one is a rescue. Layton should follow the county's lead. The Davis County ordinance is as follows:

"Section 6.12.060 - Number of dogs and cats per residence.

No person or persons at any one (1) residence within the jurisdiction of this title shall at any one (1) time own, harbor, license, or maintain more than three (3) cats and dogs in any combination. A person may only own, harbor, license, or maintain three (3) dogs if one of the dogs has been acquired from a legitimate animal shelter, as the term "animal shelter" is defined in the Utah Animal Welfare Act."  (daviscountyutah.gov/animalcontrol/ordinance)

Furthermore, part of the reason that Layton City broke off of Kaysville was because they did not wish to be limited to two dogs. Why would we forget this part of our history and return to such ordinances? This is listed as part of Layton City's history in the New Resident Packet on the city's site. To view Layton City's New Resident Packet, "History of Layton City" section, click here and scroll to the fourth page of the PDF document.

Thank you for taking a stand for our animals and allowing people to more fully enjoy companion animals. By changing this ordinance, Layton City will be a more desirable place to live and be doing its part to alleviate pressure on our local shelter.