Members of the West Mifflin community erupted in applause and cheers as the council moved to end a controversial proposal targeting pet owners.
The city considered putting a limit on the number of pets one person could own, but the backlash came quickly.
People held a council meeting Tuesday night to discuss the ordinance.
“Refuse it! Don’t put it on the table,’ they shouted.
A line spilled out the door of a room filled with more than a hundred upset community members.
‘We want to vote tonight. We want it voted down,” one man shouted.
There were several outbursts as the meeting began.
“We voted for you, and next year we’ll have a new council,” another man shouted.
Councilwoman Karen Santoro made a motion to table the pet bill at the beginning of the meeting, but it caused some commotion.
“I did not propose or write this ordinance,” Santoro said. “We don’t want to take your pets with us. That is not on the table.”
Due to the sheer volume of people, city council members voted to kill the ordinance within the first 30 minutes of the meeting.
“Clearly the public has spoken, and this City Council has been receptive to it,” said attorney Phil DiLucente, who proposed the pet ordinance.
Many pet owners, including Emily Booth, were happy with the decision.
“I actually just felt a wave of relief,” Booth said. “I am of course very emotional. I love my animals.”
The proposal would limit homeowners to five pets. They can all be cats, but no more than three dogs. The proposal would have sent many responsible pet owners across the border.
Booth has four dogs, chickens and exotic animals.
“We were talking about which dog to get rid of,” Booth said.
For many people, including Kelsey Gross, pets are like members of the family.
“I have three dogs and two cats, but I also have five pond fish,” Gross said. “This regulation does not discriminate when it comes to animals. I’m certainly happy.”
A separate proposal that would limit the number of chickens a person can have was also defeated tonight.
Council members said the pet rules, as written, had many shortcomings. They added that they do not plan to propose anything like the ordinance again.
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