Minutes 10-01-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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He said if the Board of County Commissioners wanted sworn testimony then that could be provided. Commissioner Rich asked why the watch dog definition is being taken out. She also asked for the definition of"specially trained and conditioned" and clarification on who is responsible for this training and conditioning. She said she is referring to the strikethrough on page 30, item c. Bob Marotto said this is a point of contrast with the preceding two types of security dogs, which are professionally trained attack dogs. He said this can be done in private training or police training for security or police dogs. He said this would be the kind of training for those first two other types, and not to the watch dog. He said, in addition to the training that would be professionally done to certify a dog as a sentry or patrol dog, there would be required registration for these types of dogs. He said the watch dog is neither conditioned, trained or registered in contrast to these two types. Commissioner Rich asked if a watchdog is considered to be a dog that bites, versus just a dog who barks. Annette Moore said this can include any dog that barks to keep an intruder out, which includes any dog. She said this makes the definition is meaningless. Commissioner Rich asked about a case where someone tries to enter her house and her dog bites the person in response. Annette Moore said once the dog bites it is not a watch dog, according to the definition. Commissioner Rich said she disagrees with this. Commissioner McKee said if the term watch dog is generic and meaningless, then why not leave it in. He disagreed with taking it out. Annette Moore said this term makes the reader think that there are greater or fewer rights given. She said that any dog that barks or threatens to bite an intruder on personal property is a watchdog. She said there is nothing wrong with a dog that barks or threatens to bite on your property; there is no legal issue with that. Commissioner Price said her fear is that if someone has a watch dog that is barking, and a person comes onto the property, and the dog bites this person, then the County can say this is a dangerous dog. Annette Moore said the board is looking at the terms in isolation. She said if an intruder comes on to property and the dog bites, under the ordinance this is not a vicious dog - it is a trespass. She said if an intruder innocently trespasses, and the watch dog barks or threatens them, that has no legal meaning. Commissioner Price asked if micro-chipped animals need to have rabies tags. Bob Marotto said this differs for dogs and cats. He said state law does not require cats to wear a rabies tag. He said the County does not require it as long as proof of vaccination can be provided. He said the statute does not allow this for dogs. He said the microchip only provides identification if a scanner is available. Commissioner Rich asked about input from municipalities, since there are no animal control officers in those towns. She asked who was contacted for input. Bob Marotto said the board spoke with the members of the Carrboro police department. He said the board spoke with Chapel Hill Police Chief Blue, as well as staff and the town attorney. He said it has been a holistic approach with the municipalities from the beginning. Commissioner Rich asked if the municipalities have seen this draft ordinance. Bob Marotto said the municipalities have seen it and are fully on board. He noted that it will still have to go back to the elected bodies for a vote. He said there has been an enormous amount of work from all of these entities. Commissioner Price said dog fighting is illegal in Orange County. She asked why the ordinance lists precautions rather than a statement that it is illegal.