Natrona County and Metro Animal Control want to take a bigger financial bite from irresponsible pet owners before their animals take another bite out of you.

Last month, Metro Animal Control director Rick Sulzen asked the county commission to raise fines for animal violations in the county so they would be aligned with those in the City of Casper.

"Higher fines would help," officer Hannah Cooper said Saturday. "I think it would be more of an eye-opener for them [the irresponsible pet owners]."

For example, the City of Casper levies a fine of $105 - $95 fine plus $10 for court costs - for a first-time offense for an animal at large, $250 for a second offense, and the third offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $750 and up to a six-month jail sentence, Sulzen said.

But the same violation in the county is $60 for the first offense, and $110 for the second and all subsequent offenses, he said.

The disparities also exist for animal neglect, cruelty, bites, and disposing of carcasses, Sulzen said.

Even so, the fines can be reduced or waived when the case gets to court, he said.

That's frustrating for him, Cooper and animal control officer Kyle Tuma.

"You try to do everything you can and all they have is a $50 fine," Tuma said.

City and county residents don't vary in their attitude toward animals, but the county has unique issues including animals chasing livestock and wildlife, Cooper said.

She hopes the Metro Animal Control Joint Powers Board can do something to raise awareness, she said.

Sulzen is chairman of the board, which includes representatives from the county, Casper, Evansville and Bar Nunn. But that board is an advisory board only, and cannot set punishments, Sulzen told the commissioners.

Commissioner Matt Keating, the county's representative to the board, said the commission has authorized him to support an increase in fines.

However, the commission has asked the county attorney to determine just what it can do, Keating said.

But he'd like to see stiffer punishment for violators, he said, "to give a little more bite to these owners if their animals are on the loose."

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@trib.com.