Agenda - 09-22-2008 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~ Loren Hart is a UNC Alum and a resident of Orange County. He is here as an advocate for all animals, human and otherwise. He said that animals can feel pleasure, pain, fear, and loneliness. He suggested that if the County Commissioners pass this ordinance, then they will help to create a kinder and gentler world, a world that is more just, more peaceful and more loving. He said that chaining dogs for long periods is a form of abuse and should be stopped. He suggested that humans should not exploit animals for any reason. Joseph Clees is a representative of the N.C. Sporting Dogs. He represents 12 different counties. He said that this is a very controversial issue. He said that he has watched Chair Jacobs, and he has talked with sensitivity and compassion. He complimented Chair Jacobs on this. He said that he can see some fundamental flaws that there are segments of the population that feel that they have not had an adequate public process. He said that there are members on both sides of the issue that feel fear and intimidation. He asked the County Commissioners to please not fall into an animal rights agenda. He said that it is the responsibility of humans to protect these animals and take care of them. He encourages the County Commissioners to have at least 3-4 public hearings. Suzanne Roy lives in Hillsborough and was on the Tethering Committee. She said that the committee held two public hearings and invited members who are opposed to this ordinance to come onto the committee, and she does not know of any applications. She thinks that the committee has listened. She does not think that there is any question that tethering dogs is inhumane. She read a quote from the Dog Whisperer, °Chaining is a very dangerous and cruel practice. The more tightly a dog is chained, the more pent up energy he will have. The more pent up energy, the more aggression. A frustrated dog on a chain becomes a weapon and is nearly three times more likely to attack or bite a person than a dog that is simply loose in the yard." She believes that this ordinance has broad community support. Chad Resnick said that one of the people that spoke said that dogs on chains have a tendency to bite people. His response to that is to teach children not to go near dogs that they do not know. His dog has a 45-foot lunge line with a 12-foot lead on it and has a heated and air-conditioned dog house. He said that it would be infeasible for his dog to be in a 12x12 fence and restrict his movement that .much, which is one of the recommendations. Tim Frazier is an officer of the Eno River Coon Club, but he is speaking for himself. He said that he was told at the other public meetings that sporting dogs would be exempt from the ordinance. He said that no one told him how to get on these committees. He said that the sporting dog owners feel that they are being singled out. He said that he has a dog that will dig out or climb out of a fence. He said that he did not find anything out about this meeting until Saturday. He asked the County Commissioners to really think about this before passing it. Ellen Whitaker is with the Coalition to Unchain Dogs and she said that they build fences that dogs cannot dig out of. She said that it is possible to keep a dog that digs in a fence. She said that when the coalition is able to provide a fence, then the owner can see that the dog now has a personality because it can run around and not be chained. Diane Genteel said that she raises and shows rat terriers, and she does not tether her dogs. She said that the problem is not the tethering, but the implementation of tethering. She said that proper tethering socializes, cares for, and exercises animals very well. She asked the County Commissioners to please consider tethering from a different point of view. Nancy Carson Eickert lives in Orange County and has participated with the Coalition to Unchain Dogs. She affirmed everything that the representatives of the 18