There's probably something for everyone to dislike about the Dallas City Council's new plan to restrict pet ownership and reduce the number of stray dogs and cats on the streets. Households would be limited to six cats and dogs. Pet owners would be required to spay or neuter unless they obtain an expensive permit.

Here's the problem: This ordinance would put the onus on responsible pet owners and breeders to comply, creating new burdens for people who, in the vast majority of cases, are law-abiding. But it falls short on measures to punish the irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to run free, terrorize children, kill leashed pets and add to urban decay.

The plan seeks to streamline the slow, balky "dangerous dog" hearing process to more quickly confine or euthanize canines involved in attacks. That's long overdue but still lacks the necessary enforcement measures – heavy fines and potential incarceration – for irresponsible pet owners who defy or ignore the law.

The Texas Legislature, prompted by a series of nasty dog attacks, stiffened the sanctions against owners deemed negligent, but Dallas has failed to take full advantage of that law. A severe shortage of Animal Control officers still means complaints about loose animals sometimes receive no response.

At a minimum, the city should establish an online database of homes where officially designated dangerous dogs reside. Neighbors have a right to know when a potentially vicious animal is in their midst.

Penalizing breeders and responsible pet owners is not the answer. Measures with enforcement teeth, which carry real consequences for irresponsible pet owners, would move the city much closer to the goal of cleaning up its streets.