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

Browse Search

# 54 Orange County Animal Services 501 W. Franklin St, Suite 106, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 968 -2287 Animal Control Robert A. Marotto, Animal Shelter PO Box 8181 Director 1081 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd 304 Revere Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 967 -7383 (919) 245 -2075 Animal Services Tethering Committee Meeting July 11`h, 2007 6:30 p.m. -8:00 p.m. Unapproved Meeting Summary Location: Meeting Room (A -014), Whitted Building, 300 Tryon Street, Hillsborough. OCTC Members and Staff Present: Jean Connerat Austin, Kristine Bergstrand, Mary Dow, Margie Huggins, Commissioner Mike Nelson, Kelly Strowd, Animal Services Director Robert Marotto, Office Assistant Lisa Smith. Agenda Review: Review and adoption of meeting agenda Discussion: The Committee reviewed the draft report and recommendations that staff prepared on the basis of general discussion at its last meeting. Numerous votes were initiated and taken to decide various issues. There was considerable discussion on changes in exemptions for individual dogs that are hard to keep confined, as well as the exemption of hunting dogs. It was agreed to change the exceptions to only allow tethering at training and performance (or sporting) events for dogs, including but not limited to field and obedience trails. It was argued that was the only fair approach and that the Committee should concern itself with what the best policies regarding tethering were. Also, it was agreed to add to the limitation and requirements that a tethered dog must have access to food, water and shelter, and that any and all other legal requirements for animal care be met. It was further agreed that the weight of the tether and collar must not exceed ten percent of the dog's total body weight. The committee again discussed whether a minimum kennel size should be set insofar as more dogs would be expected to be kenneled and there should be some assurance that they were kept in a humane manner. It was agreed that a minimum pen size for outdoor enclosures for dogs should be established but the specification of this pen size was left to the Animal Services Advisory Board with Animal Services Staff.