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a~ <br />can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall <br />not pass this way again. The soul is in all living creatures, although the body of each is <br />different. And finally, from George Bernard Shaw: The worst sin towards our fellow <br />creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them, that is the essence of <br />inhumanity. <br />Please don't be indifferent to the quality of a dog's life; don't be indifferent to the <br />information you have received; act on the knowledge you have. The Tethering <br />Committee did what it was charged to do and drafted a sound, reasonable, and fair <br />proposal. Now, with the power you have, do the right thing; vote tonight to approve the <br />tethering amendment. Thank you. <br />Commissioner Carey commended the ASAB and the Tethering Committee on <br />their hard work on this emotional issue. He said that the Board of County <br />Commissioners has not had a chance to discuss this item as a Board yet. He said that <br />the public all wants the same thing -humane treatment of animals. He does have <br />concerns about the size of the pen that is proposed in this ordinance and he wants to <br />discuss this. He said that the Board needs to talk about athree-hour limit of tethering <br />and he is not ready to make a decision on this item tonight. <br />Commissioner Nelson said that the last public comment session was about an <br />hour long and there are 60 + signed up to speak tonight. He said that when this is <br />brought back, it will be for Board of County Commissioners' discussion only. The Board <br />needs to be able to discuss this. <br />Commissioner Carey said that the Board may ask staff to bring back further <br />information and it may want to refer this back to the Tethering Committee or ASAB for <br />consideration, if need be. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that there are questions that the Board of County <br />Commissioners needs an opportunity to raise, but she does not want to bring this up <br />until the public has had their say. She has questions about enforcement. <br />Chair Jacobs made a few suggestions. He said that it is not a competition to see <br />who gets the most speakers or who has the loudest applause. He said that he sees a <br />number of people signed up to speak who spoke last time, and he asked that they not <br />speak again, in courtesy to others who have not spoken yet. He said that the Board <br />does listen, and the same things do not need to be said again. There was a citizen in <br />opposition to what Chair Jacobs said. <br />Chair Jacobs also asked that anyone that comes to speak please remove their <br />hats. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Dennis Carden is from Caldwell in Orange County and is a charter member of <br />the Quail Farm Beagle Club. This club has 50 kennels built to USDA standards, and <br />they oppose this tethering ordinance and the pen laws that are included in it. He said <br />that he is an AKC licensed judge and he travels all over judging beagles. He feels that <br />this ordinance invades their rights as hunters and dog owners. He said that these dog <br />owners have had a lifetime commitment and he feels like they are not even being <br />considered. He thinks that it is all about what the Tethering Committee thinks. He said <br />that USDA already has a standard size pen. He asked what is big enough. He said that <br />he takes very good care of his dogs and keeps his pens and feeding bowls clean. He <br />said that he was proud to be an Orange County citizen until recently. <br />Charles Best is a lifetime resident of Orange County. He owns 300 acres of land <br />and said that he works hard to keep it. His father taught him how to hunt as a child, to <br />respect a gun, and how to treat a dog. He said that in the 30's, it was good to have <br />21 <br />