New animal control laws may have sent many panhandle pet owners to the store last week for leashes and identification tags.

On May 5, the Lancaster County Council approved new animal control laws that animal control Director Joel Hinson said this will help his office be more effective and keep the public safe.

The biggest change the new law creates is a leash law, Hinson said. All dogs and cats must be kept restrained, he said, either on a leash, in a pen, on a chain, or via a clearly marked underground fence.

All dogs and cats must also have an identification tag that lists the owner's name, address and phone number. Dogs should also have a rabies tag, as mandated by state law, Hinson said.

The changes will cause some hassle to pet owners, Hinson said, but will help animal control officers return pets that get loose to their owners and identify animals that are becoming a nuisance.

"Right now, we're probably going to be doing a lot of warnings and letting people get used to it," Hinson said.

Other changes to the law include requirements to keep dogs from being mistreated. Dogs chained or tethered up outside must have shade, the ordinance states, and they must have at least 10 feet of chain or tether.

Adequate water must also be provided to the animal, Hinson said. Animal control officers will decide on a case-by-case basis how much water constitutes an "adequate" amount.

Officers won't be immediately picking up dogs whose owners don't comply with regulations, Hinson said.

"We're not out to come out and charge everybody," Hinson said. "We'll come out and talk to them, let them know the laws, and hopefully get them to work it out that way."

Dangerous animals were also addressed in the new animal control laws. If a pet is determined dangerous by Hinson, the animal must be restrained in a pen made of heavy gauge wire, padlocked, and with secured sides, top and bottom. The dog must also have a tattoo with an identification number placed in its ear or get an identification microchip.

A committee formed by the council has worked for more than three months to create this updated ordinance. But the committee's work isn't done yet, said committee member and Lancaster County Humane Society activist Mary Reimer.

Reimer asked the council to consider mandatory licenses for pets and begged the council to continue working on the ordinance even after it was passed.

"I hope no one expects this ordinance to solve all of Lancaster County animal problems," said Councilman Fred Thomas. "It's just a good step forward."