OGDEN — Ogden residents who fit the bill can now legally own three dogs.

Earlier this week, the city council approved an ordinance that will allow residents to register and own three dogs if at least one of them is an Americans with Disabilities Act service animal, a certified therapy animal, a police or military trained dog or dogs that are being cared for because of an active military deployment.

RELATED: Ogden mulling new ordinance that would allow citizens to own more dogs

In a city council work session earlier this month, Ogden Deputy Attorney Mara Brown said the life cycle of most working dogs caused the city to reexamine it’s dog policy, which prior to the ordinance change, allowed for only two dogs (six months and older) per household, with no exceptions.

But after investigating a request from a citizen, the city found that working dogs are usually middle-aged because it takes time to train them and many retire from service activity as they become older. 

So in theory, Brown said an owner could have one dog in training, one dog currently working as a therapy dog and one older dog that has been retired from therapy work.

“There are a few situations where it makes sense for residents to be allowed to own more than two dogs,” council chair Marcia White said in a press release. “The exception established by the ordinance recognizes the important role of ADA service dogs and also better accommodates therapy dogs who work in our community.”

Brown and Ogden Deputy Police Chief Eric Young both said they don’t anticipate any enforcement challenges with the new ordinance because dog owners will have to show certification of training or documentation of military deployment when they license a third dog.

The ordinance doesn’t apply to licensed kennels and residents are still limited to six total animals (dogs, cats and ferrets), even if they utilize the exception.

In the last year, there have been nearly 7,500 renewed dog licenses in Ogden, according to Young.

You can reach reporter Mitch Shaw at mishaw@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at @mitchshaw23 or like him on Facebook at facebook.com/MitchShaw.StandardExaminer.