Because of the growing number of blended families, a divided Baraboo committee has recommended the City Council debate changes to city rules limiting the number of dogs or cats allowed per household during its Tuesday meeting.

During their meeting this week, the city Administrative Committee was slated to review requests by two local residents for approval to have more than the two dogs and two cats allowed per household. However, as they discussed the specific families, two committee members decided a policy change might be in order.

Silver Drive resident Craig Carpenter told committee members he and his children already had one dog when his new wife moved into the home with two canines of her own. Second Street resident Brandi Reisel said she was a one-dog household until her fiance and his two dogs moved in with her.

Both residents appealed for a variance to the city ordinance so they could keep all their pets.

"All the dogs are registered and enjoy one another's company," Reisel stated in a written appeal. "It would be heartbreaking to see them being torn apart."

Committee Chairman Gene Robkin pointed out the pet control ordinance allows a household to exceed its limits only for special circumstances, such as medical need. Furthermore, he said, when the committee last appealed for public comment on changes to the limits, letters and public comments were strongly against the change.

But, Robkin suggested the situation of so-called "blended families" calls for special consideration by city officials.

"(The requests) raise an issue I would like to take to the council," he said. "Suddenly, a combined family is in violation of the pet ordinance.

"I have a serious problem personally interfering with family life," Robkin said.

Alderman Joel Petty agreed many citizens have opposed allowing more pets, but said he thinks people forming joint households could justify special consideration.

"They're moving in together, they've gotten married, and it's not like they've decided to add a dog to the household," he said. "They're already established with these pets, they're committed to these pets, they care about these pets."

City Attorney Mark Reitz suggested the issue was one that might best be given a full discussion by all City Council members.

Alderwoman Elizabeth Brickl said she is among those who don't want to see households allowed more pets. She recommended they drop any idea of making the change.

"I'm highly against this," she said. "You're going to penalize families that actually stay together and are not blended."

With Brickl voting against, Robkin and Petty voted to have the City Council as a whole debate changes to the pet limitation. They took no action on the specific requests by the Carpenter and Reisel households.

Police Chief Craig Olsen said he would not take enforcement action against those families' violations to the pet ordinance until after council members decide whether they will adopt a new policy or keep it the same.

The issue of pet numbers is slated to come before the City Council when members meet next 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at 135 Fourth St.