Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
We agree with the Tethering Committee's findings that: <br />- Prolonged tethering deprives dogs of necessary exercise and socialization; <br />- Tethered dogs can and do contribute to various community nuisance issues such <br />as barking and pet overpopulation; <br />- Tethered dogs can and do pose a risk to public safety and health because they <br />may become aggressive and they are not confined behind a barrier. <br />In addition, as veterinarians, we believe that chained dogs are subjected to a variety of <br />dangers, including trachea damage from pulling on the chain; embedded collars; and injuries <br />sustained in attacks from free - roaming dogs. <br />There are many alternatives to chaining available, including adequately -sized pens, <br />fences, and simply keeping dogs inside and walking them several times a day. <br />By voting in favor of this amendment, the BOCC will be taking a positive step toward <br />protecting the public and improving the treatment of dogs in our community. We urge you to <br />do so without delay. <br />Sincerely, <br />Soren Windram, DVM, New Hope Animal Hospital <br />Kay Bishop, DVM, New Hope Animal Hospital <br />Ken Redmond, Vine Veterinary Hospital <br />Kathy Crabtree, DVM, Carver Street Veterinary Hospital <br />Pat Pagel, DVM, Cole Park Veterinary Hospital <br />Michelle Droke, DVM, Cole Park Veterinary Hospital <br />Deborah Stein, DVM, Cole Park Veterinary Hospital <br />Megan Harris, DVM, Cole Park Veterinary Hospital <br />Marjorie Lindeke, DVM, St. Francis Veterinary Hospital" <br />Timmy Frazier said that he has tried to make all of these meetings and has tried to talk <br />to people in the community, especially those in the northern part of the County. He said that <br />he is a responsible dog owner, and he believes that tethering is okay if the owner takes care of <br />his /her dogs and tethers in a humane way. He thinks that the problem in Orange County is the <br />dog breed. He said that when the County Commissioners force something like this <br />amendment down their throats, it makes the citizens mad. <br />Susan Kelly is against the tethering amendment. She agreed with Commissioner <br />Carey and they all want to do the right thing for the animals. For some, she thinks that it could <br />be tethering. <br />Stillman Wright was born and raised in Chapel Hill. He said that he has tethered <br />champion dogs and his dogs are not mistreated. He showed pictures of his dogs. His dogs <br />are kept on ten -foot chains, which give them 365 square feet. He said that he is a responsible <br />dog owner. He also showed a picture of an American Pit Bull Terrier that got out of a fence. <br />Josh Chapman was born and raised in Orange County. He read from an article from <br />the News and Observer. "Barbara Sherman, a Clinical Associate Professor at N. C. State <br />University College of Veterinary Medicine, said `method of animal confinement should not be <br />blamed for neglect. You can abuse those same dogs by putting them in tiny pens. We really <br />need to examine the welfare of each dog. "' He asked those that live in Orange County and <br />that have dogs that live on chains to raise their hands. He said that most people who raised <br />their hands are from Orange County. He said that most of the people that are pushing this are <br />