The College Station City Council on Thursday made several changes to the city's animal control ordinance, but acknowledged that more work on the issue is needed.
In a meeting that stretched at least seven hours, council members agreed to maintain a limit of four pets per household, but agreed to work on exemptions for 4-H projects.
Councilman James Massey, who was the only vote against keeping the pet limit, said the decision demonstrates that the city is not cutting-edge.
Assistant Police Chief Larry Johnson said the more pets someone owns, the harder it is for them to care for the animals. Johnson said he supported a limit on the number of pets an owner could have.
The city has been working for the past two years to update the ordinance, which hadn't been revised in 10 years, officials said.
More than 15 people spoke on the issue, most sharing opinions on the management of feral cat colonies in the city.
David Scott said he believes the city should be more concerned about protecting wild species than managing feral cats. A feral cat colony is a recipe for disaster for wild birds, he said.
"I just don't feel that wild cats and wild birds and other critters mix," Scott said.
In the end, the council agreed residents would not be able to have animals at large in the city but would allow the management of feral cat colonies, as long as they are accompanied with a trap, neuter and release program approved by the city. Details specific to the city's feral cat policy still need to be worked out, officials said after the meeting.
Massey, chair of the committee assigned to update the ordinance, said responsible pet ownership was a recurring theme throughout the panel's meetings.
"We don't have an animal control problem, we have an animal owner problem," Massey said.
The council agreed to review the ordinance every few months.
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