Agenda - 12-10-2013 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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12 1 registration for these types of dogs. He said the watch dog is neither conditioned, trained or 2 registered in contrast to these two types. 3 Commissioner Rich asked if a watchdog is considered to be a dog that bites, versus just 4 a dog who barks. 5 Annette Moore said this can include any dog that barks to keep an intruder out, which 6 includes any dog. She said this makes the definition is meaningless. 7 Commissioner Rich asked about a case where someone tries to enter her house and 8 her dog bites the person in response. 9 Annette Moore said once the dog bites it is not a watch dog, according to the definition. 10 Commissioner Rich said she disagrees with this. 11 Commissioner McKee said if the term watch dog is generic and meaningless, then why 12 not leave it in. He disagreed with taking it out. 13 Annette Moore said this term makes the reader think that there are greater or fewer 14 rights given. She said that any dog that barks or threatens to bite an intruder on personal 15 property is a watchdog. She said there is nothing wrong with a dog that barks or threatens to 16 bite on your property; there is no legal issue with that. 17 Commissioner Price said her fear is that if someone has a watch dog that is barking, 18 and a person comes onto the property, and the dog bites this person, then the County can say 19 this is a dangerous dog. 20 Annette Moore said the board is looking at the terms in isolation. She said if an intruder 21 comes on to property and the dog bites, under the ordinance this is not a vicious dog - it is a 22 trespass. She said if an intruder innocently trespasses, and the watch dog barks or threatens 23 them, that has no legal meaning. 24 Commissioner Price asked if micro-chipped animals need to have rabies tags. 25 Bob Marotto said this differs for dogs and cats. He said state law does not require cats 26 to wear a rabies tag. He said the County does not require it as long as proof of vaccination can 27 be provided. He said the statute does not allow this for dogs. He said the microchip only 28 provides identification if a scanner is available. 29 Commissioner Rich asked about input from municipalities, since there are no animal 30 control officers in those towns. She asked who was contacted for input. 31 Bob Marotto said the board spoke with the members of the Carrboro police department. 32 He said the board spoke with Chapel Hill Police Chief Blue, as well as staff and the town 33 attorney. He said it has been a holistic approach with the municipalities from the beginning. 34 Commissioner Rich asked if the municipalities have seen this draft ordinance. 35 Bob Marotto said the municipalities have seen it and are fully on board. He noted that it 36 will still have to go back to the elected bodies for a vote. He said there has been an enormous 37 amount of work from all of these entities. 38 Commissioner Price said dog fighting is illegal in Orange County. She asked why the 39 ordinance lists precautions rather than a statement that it is illegal. 40 Bob Marotto said there was a case a few months ago, where the County had to ride with 41 police on a drug warrant. He said there was information that there were 15 dogs involved with 42 illegal dogfighting. He said there was no direct testimony available, but paraphernalia was 43 found, and it was used to build a case. This is the reasoning for the precautions. 44 Commissioner Price asked where the ordinance against dog fighting is located. 45 Bob Marotto said the County resorts to state statutes for that. 46 Chair Jacobs asked if there are fire standards for kennels. 47 Bob Marotto said, for most kennels, there is a planning and zoning process. He said 48 Animal Services has been responsible for the animal welfare and less for the building structure. 49 50 PUBLIC COMMENT: