Bridgeport chickens do not run afoul of city ordinances

BRIDGEPORT – Of all those creatures residing within the city limits of Bridgeport, it appears that the two-legged ones are the most law-abiding. I’m referring, of course, to chickens.

Since the Bridgeport City Council voted last March to allow the feathered denizens within the city limits on a regulated permit basis, the newcomers have seemed to settle in without incident. The same cannot be said for the city’s dog and cat populations.

Under Title Six, Animals, Bridgeport’s Municipal Code outlines the requirements for keeping dogs - excepting Pit Bulls – and chickens (no roosters) in town. Other livestock including pigs, hogs, swine, sheep, goats, roosters, ducks, geese, swans, peacocks, rabbits, hares, horses, asses, mules, cattle or exotic animals of any kind or description are prohibited per the BMC.

At present, the city has no chapter under Title Six governing cats. While dogs offer the primary control challenge, an increasing cat presence is being addressed on a localized basis. Mayor Janet Conklin, with help from the Wenatchee Humane Society, is working to contain an increasing population of feral felines through voluntary cooperation of affected property owners.

Loose dogs are the job of Animal Control officer Bill Zweigle, who devotes 25 hours a month to rounding up errant canines and responding to citizen complaints.

“I’ve picked up 41 dogs so far,” said Zweigle last Friday, August 24. “I average about 65 over the course of a year.” Zweigle said his highest count in the 10 years he has been doing dog enforcement was 86 dogs about seven or eight years ago.

“We’re not on top of it as we would like to be,” said Zweigle who added that his limited hours do not allow the time needed to make headway on the problem. In addition to Bridgeport, he also covers Bridgeport Bar.

“The city contracts with Douglas County to cover the north end of the county,” Zweigle said.

For those who are interested in exercising responsible control over their pets, there are resources nearby that cater to both cats and dogs.

The Animal Foster Care Cat Shelter at 4 Spring Coulee Road in Okanogan at (509) 422-3364 is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Okanogan Regional Spay and Neuter Project (OK-SNIP) can be reached at (509) 422-9960 or email oksnip@gmail.com.

Okanogan Dogs Adoption Coordinators (OKANDOGS) and Adoption Coordinator Tom Short can be contacted at (509) 670-4937 or email tomoshort@gmail.com.