CAMPBELL, Ohio - Campbell City Council has passed an ordinance to protect dogs and other animals from abuse and neglect.

The rule is designed to crack down on homeowners who chronically abuse or neglect their animals by providing stricter guidelines for outdoor enclosures and tethering. City officials believe this will not only help keep animals safe but could also lead to blight remediation. 

Shelters must now be at least 600 square feet, and pet owners must clean feces and other waste.

It also requires pets to be indoors when the temperature is below 35 degrees or above 85 degrees.

"If you want to have an animal in the City of Campbell, you should treat it like a family member and keep it inside," said Council President George Levendis told 21 News about the ordinance earlier this month.

Campbell officials say animals living outside are often not adequately cared for. Aside from the animal's safety, neighbors often hear constant barking and see deplorable conditions that attract rodents, insects, and diseases. That's why a no-tethering ordinance was passed in 2022. Campbell is the only town in Ohio to have such an ordinance. 

The ordinance also states feces and debris must be disposed of regularly, and animals can not be enclosed on a concrete surface. Animals are not permitted to be tethered inside the enclosure.  

If the rules are broken, police can confiscate the animal from the owner, and owners will be handed a first-degree misdemeanor.

"Putting this in place will make it known that Campbell isn't going to put up with any dog abuse whatsoever," Councilman Timothy O'Bryan said earlier this month. "Whether it's locking your dog up in a small cage, whether you're packing a bunch of dogs in a small cage, whatever the story is, it'll teach you a lesson."

Council said the ordinance was passed after an uptick in extreme animal abuse cases in the city.

This language takes effect 30 days after it passes, on February 18.