How many dogs are too many in one household?

The Independence City Council should think twice before adopting a new pet ordinance that would allow any mix of cats and dogs up to four pets in each city residence.

The current regulation restricts homeowners to no more than two dogs and two cats each, up to a total of four combined. The council and city staff appropriately took up the subject after a complaint from a citizen who owned three cats, and feared having one of her pets euthanized in order to comply with the ordinance.

The council, led by Lucy Young on this subject, asked staff to look at alternatives, and among several options presented by staff a four-pet, any-combination alternative picked up steam after the majority at a public hearing expressed support. The measure would allow up to four dogs or four cats, or any combination of the two, as long as it doesn’t exceed four pets.

Young and supporters of the change are correct in attempting to overturn the current restriction, but the four-pet, any-combination option is not the best choice. There is a big difference between dogs and cats as pets, especially if you are neighbor to them. While three or four cats generally are inconspicuous, three or four barking dogs can easily become a nuisance.

No slight against dogs. We’ll take them as America’s favorite pet any time. But four of them in the same home could be too many in some situations. We favor another option presented by city staff - four pets, but with no more than two dogs allowed. That would exempt pet owners like the one in question with three cats, but keep the rules the same in regard to dogs.

Kudos, though, to Young and other council members and staff who responded to the citizen complaint with reasonable debate and options. That is good city government at work.