Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 3, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. (v - q <br />SUBJECT: Proposed Animal Ordinance Amendment on the Tethering of Dogs <br />DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Abstract for May 20, 2008 BOCC Public INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Hearing Ross Oglesbee, J.D., Chair, Animal <br />Proposed Ordinance Amendment Services Advisory Board 966-0599 <br />Tethering Committee Final Report & Susan Elmore, DVM, Vice-Chair, Animal <br />Recommendations Services Advisory Board 541-3474 <br />Staff Memorandum Recommending Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services <br />Minimum Kennel Size Requirements 968-2287 <br />Animal Services Tethering Committee <br />Meeting Summaries <br />Animal Services Advisory Board Minutes <br />from Meetings with Discussion on <br />Tethering <br />PURPOSE: To request that the Board of County Commissioners adopt a proposed ordinance <br />amendment to the Orange County Animal Ordinance restricting the tethering of dogs. <br />BACKGROUND: At its November 13, 2007 work session, the BOCC reviewed the Final Report <br />and Recommendations of the Tethering Committee, and requested that a proposed ordinance <br />amendment be drafted by the County Attorney's office, in consultation with the Animal Services <br />staff, and presented for consideration. At that same work session, the BOCC indicated that the <br />Animal Services Department should prepare and distribute outreach materials to ensure that the <br />public was informed of the proposed amendment. <br />The proposed amendment includes the following restrictions on the tethering of dogs: <br />• No more than a total of 3 hours of tethering within a 24-hour period <br />• A specification of the types of collars and equipment <br />• A requirement for minimum kennel size <br />• An exemption for certain organized and lawful animal functions <br />• An 18-month education period, including twelve (12) months of public outreach and six <br />(6) months of warnings <br />The proposed amendment would become effective June 1, 2009, in order to allow effective <br />public outreach and education. In addition, the amendment stipulates that only warnings would <br />be issued for lack of compliance with the tethering restrictions during the six-month period <br />