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

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S. Henri McClees said that she is the proud lobbyist of the North Carolina Sporting Dog Association. She said that her clients are great guys and they love their dogs. She said that the issue is really will the County Commissioners forbid her clients to own their dogs and to care for them as they see fit. Based on this issue, she asked the County Commissioners to reject this ordinance. She said that this proposal demands that all dog owners comply with the demands of the small majority. This would pit the citizens against each other in a needless battle that sets the stage for constant conflict. She said that this is about the rights of the people. She said that the citizens have the right to be protected from any tyranny that would be imposed upon them by a small majority. She said that "the few" want to order all citizens to comply essentially with their philosophy and they do not distinguish between animals that are abused or not abused. She said that the abuse does not come from the type of confinement, but comes from the person. Allan Green represents a group that does not own pet dogs or hunting dogs, but own working dogs. He is a small farmer that lives in the Orange Grove community. He has a number of Border Collies. He does not have a problem with the intent of having humane treatment of dogs and he would prefer not to have to tether a dog. He said that there are times when he has to tether a dog on a 30 -foot chain, particularly when a female dog comes along and his dog can get out of his pen. He said that this is an instance where the tethering law does not deal with realities of life. He asked why the exceptions were not allowed. He said that it seems that the committee was loaded with members who think tethering is bad. He is opposed to the anti - tethering law. Brian Lane is from Chapel Hill and he is not a dog owner. He said that he has come here out of civic duty and what he sees as an encroachment on individual freedom in Orange County. He said that he believes in the citizens of Orange County, and the Board of County Commissioners does not need to rule them with an iron fist. He is proud of these hunters and how they treat their dogs. He thinks that a pressing case would need to be made that is extensive proof of abuse before this ordinance is amended. He thinks that this is not happening here. He said that if this ordinance is passed on such weak evidence, he would like to know where the Board will stop. Walt Von Shernz is a resident of Durham County and he has lived in Orange County before. He grew up in another state where there were a lot of hunters that chained their dogs all the time. He said that from his own experience, he has seen what chaining of dogs can do. He firmly believes that keeping dogs on a chain will increase the propensity for the dog to develop anti - social behavior. He does not think that feeding and watering a dog fulfills all of the needs of a dog. A dog needs to be unencumbered. Andrea Press said that she was at the last meeting, and she would like to bring both sides together. She said that the simple solution, instead of turning one half of the room into criminals, would be to put the two groups together. She said that people can be educated on proper ownership, continue building fences, if dogs are bad off on chains. It is all about education. She said that education is not regulation. She said that these people are here because they love their animals and they do not want to get rid of them. She asked if the County Commissioners were prepared to take on the liability for what happens when the dogs that are put in pens escape the pens. She said that the bottom line is that the most dangerous dog is a dog at- large. On a personal level, she said that she does raise American Pit Bull Terriers. The reason that she is not a paid lobbyist is because New Hanover County ruined her existence with an anti - tether law. She had dogs behind her fence tied up while she was at home and she received written citations. She had four weeks to find a place to move and her daughter lost her spot in private school.