Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 20, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. s- <br />SUBJECT• Proposed Animal Ordinance Amendment on the Tethering of Dogs <br />DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proposed Ordinance Amendment <br />Tethering Committee Final Report & <br />Recommendations <br />Staff Memorandum Recommending <br />Minimum Kennel Size Requirements <br />Animal Services Tethering Committee <br />Meeting Summaries <br />Animal Services Advisory Board Minutes <br />from Meetings with Discussion on <br />Tethering <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Ross Oglesbee, J.D., Chair, Animal <br />Services Advisory Board 966-0599 <br />Susan Elmore, DVM, Vice-Chair, Animal <br />Services Advisory .Board 541-3474 <br />Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services <br />968-2287 <br />PURPOSE: To request that the Board of County Commissioners conduct a public hearing for a <br />proposed ordinance amendment to the Orange County Animal Ordinance restricting the <br />tethering of dogs, and adopt the ordinance amendment. <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 />Animal Services has initiated public outreach, indicating that the proposed amendment is <br />scheduled for consideration at the May 20th BOCC meeting. The Tethering Committee's full <br />report, the staff recommended kennel sizes, the proposed amendment, and a set of frequently <br />