Palouse council drops 1921 animal law

Town of Palouse officials have begun the process to do away with a 1921 law regarding loose cattle and horses.

Palouse Municipal Code (PMC) 6.04 deemed that the city and police department could sell impounded animals and direct the proceeds to the general fund. In addition, the law stated that the city will sell any livestock found picketed inside a fence or tethered inside city limits.

“The police department had a lot more freedom then to either sell the animal or shoot it or whatever,” said Mayor Michael Echanove.

The city council has been reviewing its code book regarding animals over the past year and a half. The process started while the city was working to pass an ordinance regarding chickens.

On Sept. 23, the council voted to eliminate PMC 6.04, which will require the writing a new ordinance.

“Once you accept a code into ordinance, you have to pass an ordinance to get rid of it,” Echanove explained.

The process of writing a new code will include finding where the old law was cross-referenced in other parts of the code book. Those items also must be eliminated.

City Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson will now work on drafting a new ordinance.