Orange County NC Website
36 <br />36 <br />welfare. She 'respects those beliefs, but she does not agree with them: She said that <br />they believe that animals are property and they each should have a right to do what they <br />want with their animals. She said that animals are not property, and thane is a public <br />Interest in protecting them. She saki'that some other opponents here are out-0f-county <br />(raid lobbyists and Pit Bub brebders. She said that Sandi Coy, who spoke earlier, is a Pit <br />Bull breeder and has animal cruelty charges pending against her in Kentucky. Another <br />person Is Andrea Press, who is also a Pit Bull breeder, who sells dogs with known dog <br />fighting blood fines. Ms. Press led the unsuccessful eifiort to overturn the New Hanover <br />County law, and she moved from that county after she was coed for illegally tethering <br />dogs: She said that animal cruelty is a serious issue, and as a community, they should <br />take a stand against It. Orange County needs this law, and she hopes that the County <br />Commissioners will pass kt <br />Addle Schechter has been in Orange County since the early 1960's and she fully <br />supports the antl4ethering ordinance. She said that it is overdue. <br />Kris Bergstrand spoke on behalf of Jean Alston, who is a member of the <br />Tethering Committee and is in support of the ordinance amendment. <br />Elise Roosevelt fives in Hillsborough. She has been in Orange County for eight <br />years and she is a lifelong animal owner of dogs and cats. She strongly supports the <br />anti tethering ordinance because what she* has personally seen and what she has read_. <br />She said that it is important to remember that this is about both public safety -and <br />humane treatment of animals. She referred to the USDA ruling prohibiting tethering as a <br />method of primary enclosure. She said that this is about 2417 enclosure. and not 2 -3 <br />hours. She said that cruelty comes in many forms, and this is only one tool. She said <br />that this is about the welfare of animals and the safety of the community and not about <br />people's professions and financial welfare. <br />Lori Hensley is opposed to chaining dogs. <br />Robert Hensley said that he is a volunteer with the Coalition to Unchain Dogs. In <br />the past year, they have built 50 fences in Orange, Durham, and Wake Counties and <br />have removed approximately 85 dogs from chains. He showed some pictures. He said <br />that one thing that disturbs him is that Ms. Coy was charged with cruelty to animals. He <br />read something from his PDA, including that one dead dog still on a chain was found on <br />her property. He also acknowledged that Andrea Press was involved In breeding dog <br />fighters, as mentioned above. Sitting next to Ms. Press Is another paid lobbyist, Mr. <br />McClees, from the North Carolina Sporting Dogs Association. He spoke In support of <br />the•and- tethering ordinance. <br />Midrey Oliver has fired in Orange County for over 46 years. He said that this is a <br />touchy situation here and the Board of County Commissioners appreciates the work of <br />the Tethering Committee, and he asked that the Board please appreciate his <br />commitment to his dogs for over 50 years. He said that a law is out there now - the <br />leash law — that is not being enforced now. <br />Brian F. Fee read a prepared handout: <br />'Dear Sits: <br />My name is Brian Fee and I lire In Chapel Hill with my wife and three children. <br />After marry years of renting homes and apartments, we bought a home in Chapel Hill — <br />one with a big yard for plants and animals. Last summer we were told about three <br />puppies that were dropped off and abandoned at a minister's house. We adopted the <br />puppy, which is part Labrador, part German Shepard..... but mostly mutt: Her name is <br />Lily and the kids painted rainbows and lilies on her doghouse that I built. The agreement <br />with my wife was that the dog would remain outside during the day on a fine (a cable - <br />trolley system) but remain inside in the evening and in a crate at night. Everything was <br />working out fine .... even as she has grown to 60 Ibs... unfit I saw Dave Hart's editorial in <br />29 <br />