Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	Dave Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Scott J. Miller, Staff Attorney Brian Jimenez, Code Enforcement Manager Amy Miller Brown, Long Range Planner
DATE:	December 10, 2008
RE:	Ordinance 8214

Please place the following item on the December 16 City Commission Consent Agenda.

Amend the animal control ordinance to allow domesticated hedgehogs as pets within the City

A request to consider amending the animal control ordinance to allow domesticated hedgehogs as pets within the City was reviewed by the City Commission at the December 2 meeting.  Hedgehogs are currently not allowed under City ordinance because they are not classified as rodents.  Per the request and based on research, it is anticipated that hedgehogs would be kept in a manner similar to smaller rodents allowed under current ordinance.  In review of this request, the Lawrence Humane Society has been contacted and has indicated that the only substantial concern with the keeping of hedgehogs is if the animals would be released and reproduce their population could compete with and perhaps threaten populations of some indigenous small mammals.  At the December 2 meeting, the Commission directed staff to prepare an Ordinance amending the animal control ordinance to allow the keeping of domesticated hedgehogs as pets within the City.   

Action Requested/Recommended

Adopt Ordinance 8214 on first reading, if appropriate.