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

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. - .204 . Tethering ~~ ~rt ~ ~ July 30'h,_2007 PURPOSE: To n~uest that the BOCC cream a Tethering Committee for the purpose of assessing whether and if so how the County's animal ordinances should be amended in regard bu the tiethering of dogs. BACKGROUND: The issue of whether or not there should be more restrictive tethering requiremenffi in Orange County's animal ordinances has come before the Mimal Services Advisory Board. The same issue has been raised elsewhere in North Carolina and around the Un"rted Stafies, and in some places, there have been ordinance or statutory changes that• restrict or prohibit the use of tethers and chains fio confine dogs: The issue of tethering was the subject~of discussion~at the•August meeting of the Animal Services Advisory Board. Proponents of more restrictive tethering requiremerrts addressed conoems with public safely and community 1'rvabitity as wea as concerns with the humane care of animals. Another member of the community favorably companad tethering with other forms . of confinement On the basis of public comments on tethering. and discussion among its members reganding ordinances of this kind in the context of Orange County, the ASAB decided that a Tethering Commitfiee ought to be created. Toward that end, the ASAB selected two representatives to meet and develop an approach in response fio a three-pronged charge from the ASAB. First, they were to cxeate alargercommitteewith across-section of community views; second,.to compile pertinent information; and finally, to determine how general public comment ought to be gathered about any possible.oniinance amendmerrts regarding tethering. ~ . . In early September., there was a meeting of the two ASAB representatives to the Tethering . Committee. A primary outcome of that meeting was th identify positions for five additional members of that Committee defined as follows: (1) law enforcement; (2) expertise in the area of animal behavior; (3) expertise in the area of animal health and wellness; ~(4} an advocate of more limited tethering; and (5} an advocate for tethering as a means of confinement Subsequent to the meeting, staff discovered that only the BOCC could create or authorize the creation of such a committee. Thus the creation of the.Committee was n3fenEd bade to the ASAB at its September meeting and, at that meeting, a motion was unanimously adopted aslong the BOCC fio either create a Tethering Commitfiae, or m authorize the ASAB to itself create such a committee as described herein: Accordingly, the BOCC will also need fio dedde whether the additional five pn:-defined positions on the Tethering Committee would be filled the ASAB itself or by the BOCC through its usual application process for volunteers. The Animal Services Department, under the direction ~of Bob Marotto, will serve as Secretary to the Tethering Committee under either scenario~and the recommendations from the Tethering Committee wilt be reviewed and commented on by the ASAB as a whole before being presented to the BOCC for any possible action. . 18