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Tethering Committee Report <br />July 30~', 2007 <br />would include education about the various alternatives and community resources available to help <br />owners transition from tethers to other means of restraining their dogs. <br />As the Committee does not want a much needed tethering ordinance to interfere with the conduct of <br />legal sporting events, it is proposing an exemption for such events, provided the tethering is <br />temporary, not lasting for more than seven (7) days in duration while such events are conducted. <br />The Committee considered the possibility of an exception for hunting dogs given the concerns <br />raised by hunters in its "listening sessions," but ultimately decided against recommending such an <br />exception for several reasons. One is that belief that hunting dogs have the same social and <br />physical needs as other types of dogs. Another is that such an exception would pose difficulties in <br />the process of enforcement insofar as anyone with a dog from a hunting breed could contend that <br />his or her dog should be exempted. <br />It was also believed that the creation of an exception or exceptions would not be fair to dog owners <br />who were not allowed to tether their dogs for a period longer than three hours under the proposed <br />ordinance amendment. It was because of this concern that the Committee ultimately decided <br />against recommending some kind of an exception for dogs that were known to be "escape artists," <br />as well, as an exception for hunting dogs. <br />Deliberations regarding these and other concerns raised in public testimony occurred in the final <br />two meetings held by the Tethering Committee. And it is on the basis of those deliberations, as <br />well as the information it gathered from other sources, that the Committee is proposing that there be <br />an ordinance amendment that limits the practice of tethering in Orange County. <br />NEXT STEPS <br />The recommendations made in this report will be submitted to the ASAB for timely review and <br />deliberation of whether a proposed ordinance amendment should ultimately be adopted by the <br />BOCC itself. The ASAB is made up of twelve County-appointed members and charged with <br />providing input and advice to the Animal Services Department on various matters, including policy. <br />14 <br />