ORD-2008-102a - Animal Control Ordinance - Tethering of Dogs

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Tethering Committee Report July 3e 2007 35 78 county (Scotland) has the same ordinance as the city They have a 90 percent compliance rate at tins pow Laurinburg also has runs on pens Sim — IOx10 for smaller dogs, 20x10 for larger. Animal control wants larger requirements, but the city council has not agreed. ENFORCIIV MU: 1 -hour time limit verified by sitting and watching. Violators are given a two- week warning notice in general, but animal control uses discretion and will give some situations more time if the dog is in good condition. Violation results in a civil citafon and $100 fine. They do have the power to impound dogs and feel this has been an important tool. Most people comply with the law by patting up a pen. The Humane Society has provided some pens to those who cannot afford iL Those that don't comply and have their dogs impounded mist pay shelter flee, vaccinations, etc. to get the dog back. Sometimes the shelter fee is waived. About 25 % reclaim their dog and the rest are better off anyway. PHASE IN The city had a one -year education period before enforcement began. They educated the community through fact sheets, newspaper. radio, posters, etc• RESULTS OF ORDINANCE: Overall decrease in cruelty cases, cut down on pit bull problems, decreased dog bites, and helped with overpopulation (penned dogs are not as easy to get pregnant). Prior to the law, 50% of bites before were from chained dogs. No dramatic increase in surrenders and no real problems with people turning their dogs loose. PUBLIC REACTION: Positive — most people think chaining is cruel. Those that don't agree are those whose dogs ere not well taken care of anyway. Joalne McKeeL Shelter Manager Catawba County Anal Care and ControL Catawba County TIM LAW: Catawba does not have a ban, just requirements on conditions for tethering. ENFORCMENT: They don't receive complaints very often. When they do it is because of length of chain. They educate people as to why they have the m4*mcA and will write citations for violators. The ten percent of body weight requirement is assessed by eyeballing the situation. Some officers feel comfortable and some don't with having to make judgments on the situations. No citations have been challenged RESULTS OF LAW: More chaining occurs in the rural area. Approximately 90 — 95% of people are compliant They have not seen an increase in animals being surrendered. More animals are surrendered under the nuisance ordinance than the texhering ordinance. 28