Focus Area: Quality of Life and Legal
Staff Contact: Mike Sirna; James Brackett; Ron Shaver; Bob Gallimore
Subject: Proposed amendments to Title 8 and 9 of the Olathe Municipal Code pertaining to animals.
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title:
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Consideration of Ordinance 25-31 amending Titles 8 and 9 of the Olathe Municipal Code pertaining to animals.
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Summary:
This item was provided as a report on the City Council agendas on August 5 and 19, 2025. Based on feedback received during the August 5 meeting, staff updated the proposed ordinance to clarify the parameters within which euthanasia may be used. Staff also made non-substantive updates to the proposed ordinance.
Over the last year, staff has prepared comprehensive revisions to Title 8 of the Olathe Municipal Code (“O.M.C.”), which governs animal care and control in the City. The revisions can be found in the proposed Ordinance 25-31 (Attachment A), and a section-by-section summary of the revisions is also attached (Attachment B).
The proposed revisions include:
- Aligning the O.M.C. cruelty to animals and dog fighting sections with state law, while retaining existing Olathe-specific provisions. The relevant state statutes are attached (Attachment C).
- Updating requirements related to rabies and animal care to reflect current state regulations and best practices.
- Combining all provisions related to unsanitary conditions into a single section;
- Creating a reckless animal owner designation to address owners of animals responsible for ongoing violations.
- Reorganizing and updating sections throughout Title 8 to reflect current practices of the Olathe Animal Shelter and Animal Care and Control.
- Making nonsubstantive edits throughout Title 8 for clarity and consistency.
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Financial Impact:
None.
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Action Needed:
Approve Ordinance No. 25-31 amending Titles 8 and 9 of the Olathe Municipal Code pertaining to animals.
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Attachment(s):
A – Ordinance No. 25-31
B – Summary of Proposed Changes
C – Kansas statutes