FORT THOMAS — Residents of Fort Thomas can breathe a little easier, thanks to a revision in the animal nuisance ordinance.

        Officials can now take action against pet owners for offensive odors, under the revision passed after a Fort Thomas woman was discovered among more than 100 cats.

        Though neighbors had complained about a stench coming from Bonnie Sarakatsannis' house on Scenic View Drive, authorities were stymied.

        “We couldn't do anything,” said Jay Treft, assistant city administrator for Fort Thomas. “We didn't have probable cause.”

        Mrs. Sarakatsannis died shortly after she was discovered in the garage of her cat-infested house suffering from a broken hip and other injuries. The 69-year-old woman's death brought more attention to the ordinance, which city officials began examining in February.

        With the revised ordinance, Mr. Treft said he hopes extreme cases like Mrs. Sarakatsannis' can be avoided.

        “Only under this new animal nuisance ordinance would we have any ability to act on these types of complaints,” Mr. Treft said.

        Now that the city has the ability, some residents are ready to take advantage of it. Even though the ordinance has only been in effect for about a month, Mr. Treft said the city had received a “pretty heavy response.”

        In a complaint filed with the city on April 11, Judy Strange said she was “fed up” with a neighbor's dog. According to the report, dog feces were left in the yard and the dog urinated on her fence. In the report, Ms. Strange said she could not sit out on her deck and enjoy her property because of the odor.

        Mr. Treft said many of the complaints filed were similar to Ms. Strange's.

        “Up until now, our city ordinances never addressed stench (and) unsanitary conditions,” Mr. Treft said.

        Under the revised ordinance, residents call in complaints to the city. An animal control officer determines if they are valid. If it is,the officer speaks with the offender and issues a warning. Offenders are fined no less than $50 and no more than $100.

        Previously, the city's animal ordinances only addressed barking and pet maintenance and control.

        After Mrs. Sarakatsannis' death, the city considered a revised ordinance that would limit pet ownership to two cats and two dogs. But many Fort Thomas residents opposed that plan.

        In an effort to curb pet problems, other cities in the Greater Cincinnati area have placed limits on pet ownership.

        Karen Samples contributed to this report.
       

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