Minneapolis is considering lifting a long-standing rule that requires individuals with felony convictions to obtain a special permit to own potentially dangerous large dogs. The Minneapolis City Council is scheduled to vote on August 27 on a proposal to eliminate the $250 permit fee.
This ordinance, dubbed 'Bark Down Barriers,' seeks to reduce barriers for individuals with past convictions who are now living in the community. Under a city ordinance in place since 2008, people convicted of offenses such as drug crimes, murder, assault, or burglary must pay the fee for a permit to own an animal weighing over 20 pounds or deemed a public danger.
The proposed change would still allow the city to deny permits to individuals convicted of animal cruelty or those who used an animal to commit a crime. It would also permit the city to restrict or prohibit pet ownership if an individual fails to adhere to animal ownership rules.
Minneapolis Animal Care and Control director Tony Schendel stated that the current rule is "unnecessarily restrictive" and suggested it creates more inconvenience than community protection. He noted that many "justice-impacted residents" are good animal owners and that owning a pet can help them rebuild their lives.
Between 2020 and the present, 18 people applied for the permit, with 11 approved and seven denied, according to city records. Permits have often been rejected when the animal was deemed a risk to the public.
Supporters of the ordinance shared personal testimonies at a recent council meeting. John Hudson, who has been out of prison for a year after serving 21 years, described pets as family. "Most people treat their pets like family but this ordinance put in place [means] you have to pay to have family," he said.
Mike McKinney, who has a felony conviction, also expressed support for the proposal. "A fee on my dog doesn't answer for my past. It just punishes me for still being here and trying to build the best life possible," McKinney told the council.
If approved by the full City Council, the amendment would take effect almost immediately.
State law has previously mandated that individuals convicted of specific felonies obtain this permit for animals over 20 pounds or considered potentially dangerous.
