Maximum Number of Pets Question

A bit of background:

I live in a small city that could be considered out in the sticks.  Travel 5 minutes west of me and you'll run into farms and corn fields.  I have neighbors on both sides of me (not extremely close) and wooded areas in front and behind the house I live in.  The only non-bar sit down place to eat is like a Denny's/Perkins and there is only one fast food joint in town (Subway).  So basically this isn't the city or a well populated busy suburb.

My city ordinance has a restriction on the number of dogs/cats someone can have to 3.  I looked around briefly at other cities that are bigger/busier and closer to Minneapolis/St. Paul and some (most) are 4-5.  I would have thought since my small city is out on the outskirts of the suburbs (naturally have more room) that it wouldn't be that low.

I just moved into a different area of this small city and all my neighbors have more then 3 pets.  Heck my next door neighbor has 3 dogs and 3 cats (or was it 4 cats - I forget).

So question is - do people follow their city ordinances?  I ask because I have 2 cats and 1 dog and wanted to adopt another cat, I have the room (I live alone in a 1600sq. ft 3 story house) and am financially stable to support another animal.  However because of my city ordinance I couldn't fill out an adoption application (because they ask about the city ordinance) and instead went on Craigslist.

I lived for years in a no limit city.  Then there was a hoarding case of 100+ animals and 2 rabid animals.  I found a sick racoon and ended up talking to AC and was told of the limit and he was cool about it-basically don't care unless there are issues then he would enforce it.  Thing that sucked was it was only on 4 months or older so you could have a few adults and many litters and still be legally ok.

Where I am now is no limit. Last place was apartment and they had 4 cats and the complex was 2 pets in any combo.  I had way more then 2 cats and no one knew/said anything.

Most areas I have seen don't care much as long as there is nothing going on/people complaining.  Though I would use 2 vets or more to avoid them knowing the true number.
 

I don't think the vets are legally allowed to turn you in for having too many pets without a subpoena. I could be wrong but I do think there's a vet/client privilege. They can report you if they suspect abuse/neglect (just like a pediatrician), but not just for breaking an ordinance (I'm fairly sure. Not 100% positive).

Where I live there's a 5-dog limit in town, and it is enforced. But I guess if you have more than 5 dogs in town, somebody is going to notice! I don't think there's a limit on cats, and I haven't really tried to find out :anon:. If they ever make a stink, I'll make them take it as far as they can legally, and if they still want to pursue it I'll move. In the town my parents live in, there's a 3 pet limit, and they have 6 cats and 2 dogs. And almost everybody else I know in that town has at least 4 pets :tongue2:. So apparently it's not enforced unless there's a problem. I'm not going to risk moving there, though.

Lots of people go over their maximum.  And no one would know unless a neighbour reported you for some reason. However, if you kept your pets inside and quiet and they didn't disturb anyone, I doubt anyone would report you.

Dogs can be an iffy situation. If they bark or annoy a neighbour, the neighbour may report you for having a noisey dog, and upon inspection, the authorities might find out you are over your pet limit.

IMHO if you want another pet, I would go for a cat that you kept inside.  This way a neighbour would be none-the-wiser.
 

I live in a small/rural city with a population of barely 1,000. :lol3:

Depending on who you ask, the pet ordinance could be any of the following:
1) 3 pets maximum
2) 3 dogs/3cats maximum
3) up to 6 pets maximum

I have more cats than the city limit. My cats are all S/N, vetted, & strictly indoors. I have numerous cat boxes, 7 cat trees for vertical space, and clean all the time. They aren't a nuisance, so I don't see it as a problem. I know of others who have over the limit. IMO, unless they are a nuisance most people won't complain. Or unless they are living in unsanitary conditions.

Do you guys adopt and if so do you not answer the question about the city ordinance?  

All my animals are inside animals, my dog rarely if ever barks and isn't home during the day usually (she either goes to day care or with me to work).   All my animals except for one is chipped, all are fixed and are eating healthy.  I'm just finding with cats that it's easy to have 3-4 because they are easy...don't get me wrong, my dog is really easy but dogs are just different in my mind.

Thanks for the responses, I appreciate it.

Aqualoon said:

Do you guys adopt and if so do you not answer the question about the city ordinance?  

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The humane society here doesn't ask a question on the application about a city pet limit ordinance. You'll find that each group's application process will vary greatly.

Some of my pets were adopted from the humane society when they were close to being euthanized, or were foster failures (some were deemed 'unadoptable'). They are aware I have more pets than the city limit, but again the rule isn't generally enforced unless the pet's welfare is of concern.

ETA: When looking at adopting, look around - if you travel chances are you'll find places that don't ask about pet limits.

I have gotten a few off craigslist.  The people REALLY didn't care who got them.  All would not have gotten fixed and some were pregnant. I have yet to have to answer any questions just told pick who you want, thanks and on way home.  Same for my dog. 

How people can be like that I have no idea but it worked out well for cats I took.  All spayed/neutered and vetted as needed.
 

My condo assn. has a two pet limit; two cats or a cat and a dog, but not two dogs and no pet whose breed averages 50 lbs or more. No breeding, no reptiles, no farm animals.

You can always move out of the city limits......

Thanks for the responses, because of them I think I'm going to take the plunge and adopt another cat.

Aqualoon said:

Thanks for the responses, because of them I think I'm going to take the plunge and adopt another cat.

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Yay!!!   Another kitty gets a home!

Keep us posted!