Agenda - 02-15-1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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_55,. b. Most training has resulted from people working on the job with personnel at zoos. For the county to enforce an animal control program effectively, this may mean hiring a zoo employee or paying a retainer for their assistance. 4. ¶'ersonnel are needed not only for field work but to handle the tiaperwork associated with a wild animal control effort. a. An animal census would have to be taken to determine the extent of ownership/possession in the county. This, as well as an on-going licensing/regulation effort would require a record keeping/maintenance responsibility. b. The approval procedures would require the involvement of personnel from several departments. This could involve the Manager's, Planning, Health and Sheriff's Departments as well as the Planning Board and Board of County Commissioners , depending on the degree and complexity of the enforcement effort. 5. Other aspects of the enforcement issue cover practical as well as legal difficulties. a. Particularly important are the legal ramifications of an enforcement effort if an animal escapes. Who is liable? The owner? The County? Both parties? b. A practical problem too is the ability to carry out or assist in search and recovery efforts. The county is not equipped or trained to perform this function, and it is compounded by the varieties of equipment needed to effectively carry it out. There is no one place to go to purchase such equipment and, as the animal species are so varied, so would be the equipment needed to handle or subdue them. c. Other practical problems involves the care of the animals in the event of the owners death or lack of interest in the animal ; and the problem of notifying surrounding owners in the event an animal is allowed in a particular location. Requirements would have to be established defining who would be responsible for the animal if the owner died or wished to get rid of it. Continued care is a problem,for zoos are unwilling to accept animals when they know little of the breeding lines, health and behavior characteristics. A holding capability established by the County would require expenditures for animal enclosures, equipment, food, etc. Assistance from State agencies or other animal avenues would have to be sought. Notification of property owners is more of a technical problem but offers a real dilemma as far as where to draw the line. Should notification be required within 500 feet, a mile, five miles or where? Whose responsibility is it to notify surround- ing owners? IV. A FOURTH AREA FOR CONSIDERATION IS THAT OF ENFORCEMENT COST AND HOW THOSE COSTS MIGHT BE RECOVERED. A. Costs 1 . (Tittle or no cost would be entailed in enforcing a ban. Investigation of animal complaints would be through the Sheriff's Office utilizing existing personnel and procedure to take action on ordinance viola- tion as a misdemeanor offense.