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Police begin enforcing animal rules

Ark City animal owners will have to keep a rope on the amount of animals they have in the city limits.

As of April 1 chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and any fowl over the age of three months will be limited to three animals. The Limitation of Fowl ordinance was passed in March of last year, according to a press release by the Arkansas City Police Department. Ark City residents are given a full week with one full weekend to comply with the ordinance.

Animal Control officers will issue one warning for any violations of the Limitation of Fowl ordinance, after that a summons may be issued. The only exceptions to the law are for "authorized and licensed" veterinarians.

The dog-tethering ordinance will take effect on the same date. Residents will only be allowed to keep their dog on a tether or stake for "one continuous hour." After that the dog will have to be taken off the tether.

Residents will only be able to return the dog to a tether after three hours have passed. Dogs may be placed on a tether or stake four times in a 24-hour period.