ORD-2008-069 - Proposed Animal Ordinance Amendment on the Tethering of Dogs

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Please feel free to contact me about this important issue. I look forward to hearing back from you with a good report. I can be reached at 910 - 798 -7505 or imcneil _nhc ov.com. Sincerely, Jean P. McNeil New Hanover County Animal Control Services Manager" Amanda Stipe is a Chapel Hill native, a former Animal Control Officer within the area, and a dog trainer. She believes that enforcement is an option. She said that a one size fits all approach will not work to confine animals, protect them, and protect the public. She said that governments and organizations should continue to work together to educate the public to the responsibilities of dog ownership. She said that the proposal for anti - tethering is too restrictive and each dog must be considered individually. She read an excerpt from the book, "The Love of a Dog," by Patricia McConnell, where a visiting young friend did not survive a dog attack. "The two girls were alone in the house, except for a total of six large dogs. An adult male, an adult female, and four adolescents. None of the dogs had been spayed or neutered. All were underweight and in poor condition. None of the dogs had received any training, nor had they been outside the house beyond being tied up to a chain in the yard. Neighbors reported several incidents in which the dogs had been screamed at, struck, and kicked. Social services reported that most of the surfaces in the home, including the beds, were covered with the dogs' urine and feces." She said that this shows the people problem that we have. She said that a tethering law would not have helped in this circumstance and might have been the reason the dogs were confined indoors with unsupervised juveniles. Training people on animal behavior is key to responsible dog welfare and ownership. Educating people on the benefits of spaying and neutering is also important. She said that regulations or laws should not be so restrictive that they hinder options to dog owners who are willing to do the right thing for themselves, the public, and their pets. Animal Control may have a more difficult time in locating animal abusers as they move indoors, no longer under plain sight. She asked the County Commissioners to consider not enacting this proposal in its current state, but to provide Animal Control and law enforcement additional monies to enforce current laws. Lamar Chapman said that he spoke at the last meeting, but he said that he was here to speak on behalf of some people that could not attend. He said that at the last meeting people were saying that dogs had feelings and were emotional, etc. He said that all dogs may not like chains, just like some people like coffee or tea. He said that some dogs will run off if left out, but his dog will run around and then come home. He said that this is not mistreatment. He read from something: "We are our own town; we don't care how other counties are run. If they said, 'jump in front of a bus,' would you do it? Everything they have presented us with is from another county. It is not from Orange County. We are our own county." He said that the committee should have talked to the people in the community and not people from other counties. He said that most of the people that are for the anti - tethering ordinance were not even raised in Orange County. He said that if this ordinance is passed, his dogs will go to another residence in another county. Eliana Beattie does not live in Orange County, but she works at the animal shelter. She read a letter signed by nine local veterinarians: "To the Board of County Commissioners: We, the undersigned veterinarians who practice in and around Orange County urge the Board of County Commissioners to vote in favor of the Animal Control Ordinance amendment to restrict the practice of tethering dogs and establish minimum kennel sizes for dogs.