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BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' ACTION AGENDA <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT ITEM NO.E-3- <br /> MEETINI& DATE' or <br /> 0 5 5 C <br /> • 038 <br /> SUBJECT.- Animal Control <br /> DEPARTMENT:, Health PUBLIC HEARING: YES NO <br /> I ATTACHMENTS) INFORMATION CONTACT: Commissioner Willhoi <br /> 1. Summary of Amendments <br /> 2.. Proposed Animal Control Ordinance PHONE NUMBERS: HILLSBOROUGH - 732-8181 <br /> 3. Summary of Comments and Suggested. HILLSBOROUGH 732-9361 <br /> Animal Control Ordinance Amendments CHAPEL HILL - 967-9251 <br /> in Response Hereto MEBANE 4 227-2031 <br /> DURHAM - 688-7337 <br /> PURPOSE:- In general, the purposes of this ordinance are to define and prohibit the <br /> abuse of animaTs;- to establish an animal cruelty investigation effort; to. <br /> define and remedy public nuisance problems that are dangerous or prejudicial <br /> to. public health,. property, and livestock;. to remedy the emission of noises <br /> that annoy or frighten citizens;- to. regulate, restrict, or prohibit the <br /> keeping of strays; to prevent dogs from going at large and.breedinn in such <br /> manner a$: to maintain a superabundance of dogs and engaging in pack activities; <br /> td permanently restrain vicious dogs; to establish a citizens complaint process; <br /> and, to establish civil fines for violation of the ordinance. <br /> NEED: Numerous citizens are bitten each year (sane persons sustain serious injury <br /> requiring hospitalization); the Animal Control Officers (ACOs) of the Health <br /> Department handle around 10 bite cases per month;. dogs cause bicyclists and <br /> motorcyclists to have accidents-; in some areas jogging and other outdoor <br /> exercise is hazardous due to dogs; livestock are killed by don packs; roaming <br /> dogs destroy property; citizens complain they are not able to enjoy their <br /> own yards- due to roaming dogs;: the.ACOs respond to about 170 citizen complaints <br /> about dogs per month in the- non-incorporated areas of Orange.County. Several <br /> major cases of cruelty to ahimals are discovered each year. We. lack a systema- <br /> tized. effort to discover- the true extent of this problem and sto!� such-.prac- <br /> tices, Orange County does not now have an ordinance other than the minimal <br /> State Regulations. The- State Regulations are inadequate for the control of <br /> roaming and biting dogs- - often our ACO's are unable to help people due to <br /> lack of regulations. <br /> IMPACT: A) Increased safety and security of citizens and,property from animals. <br /> 8) Provide ACO's with necessary regulations to dd their jobs. <br /> C) Establish an animal cruelty investigation/prevention program. <br /> D) Minimal additional county cost but increased revenue due to fine collection. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S); <br /> Ad-,Nc the ordinance amendments. <br />