ESCANABA — The future of Escanaba’s animal ordinance is on hold following discussion by the city council as to whether it should be adjusted to allow homes fostering animals to keep more animals.

While there was some confusion about who put the discussion of the animal ordinance on the agenda for Thursday’s city council meeting, there was no question as to why the issue was being raised.

An investigation into an alleged puppy mill in Maple Ridge Township last August left the Delta Animal Shelter looking for foster families for many of the 134 dogs that were seized from the property as well as the roughly 100 puppies that were born to the dogs after they were put into the animals shelter’s care.

Currently, the city’s ordinance says that it is unlawful to keep more than four dogs over four months of age at any time in a single residence, garage, business, or other building. Exceptions are made for animals being kept by a veterinarian or at a veterinary hospital, commercial pet shop, licensed animal shelter, or licensed kennel. There are no exceptions for fostering.

Some of the Escanaba residents who stepped forward to care for the animals already had dogs of their own, like Kathy Woodbury who now owns four dogs, two of which she and her husband adopted after fostering them following the puppy mill raid.