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:
title
Report regarding proposed amendments to Titles 8 and 9 of the Olathe Municipal Code pertaining to animals.
Body
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Summary:
This item was provided as a report on the City Council agenda on August 5, 2025. Based on feedback received during that 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-XX (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:
Accept the report. Unless directed otherwise, staff will prepare the ordinance for formal consideration on September 2, 2025.
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Attachment(s):
A - Ordinance No. 25-XX
B - Summary of Proposed Changes
C - Kansas statutes