City bans feeding pets outside at night

BARBERTON, Ohio, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- An Ohio city council passed an ordinance banning the feeding of pets outdoors at night with $50 fines imposed on violators.

The eight member Barberton City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve the ordinance, which bans any pet food from being made available to animals at night unless the food and pet are inside an enclosed pen, WJW-TV, Cleveland, reported Tuesday.

Barberton Mayor Bill Judge said the ordinance is designed to combat health and safety issues.

"It attracts unwanted animals at night: raccoons, possums and skunks," Judge said. "We are trying to help the domesticated animals. There are safety issues if there are rats or rodents running around."

Police have not said how they plan to enforce the ordinance.