From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Nov. 1, 1973:

“Unreasonable, unconstitutional, ridiculous, and approaching asinine” — these were the words chosen by Lawrence attorney George Melvin in criticisms leveled at the recently proposed animal control ordinance. The proposal, to be presented for a public hearing this week at the Lawrence City Commission meeting, was praised by some local residents, including one who said, “I hope in the future it will be rigorously enforced.” Attorney Melvin, however, objected to the limits the ordinance would place on the number of dogs and cats a person could own as well as the requirement of muzzling of all dogs and cats in case of a rabies epidemic. Melvin asked commissioners this week if they had any idea how they would muzzle a cat; he also wondered if the proposed ordinance would apply to skunks and offered city attorney Milton Allen the job of muzzling the wild skunk the Melvin family fed in their back yard. Mayor Nancy Hambleton responded by saying that the new ordinance would need to address some issues on a complaint basis only. The law would require rabies vaccination for dogs and cats and would allow animal control officers to go onto private property without the owner’s permission in order to catch stray animals.