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~~ <br />covered with the dogs' urine and feces." She said that this shows the people problem <br />that we have. She said that a tethering law would not have helped in this circumstance <br />and might have been the reason the dogs were confined indoors with unsupervised <br />juveniles. Training people on animal behavior is key to responsible dog welfare and <br />ownership. Educating people on the benefits of spaying and neutering is also important. <br />She said that regulations or laws should not be so restrictive that they hinder options to <br />dog owners who are willing to do the right thing for themselves, the public, and their <br />pets. Animal Control may have a more difficult time in locating animal abusers as they <br />move indoors, no longer under plain sight. She asked the County Commissioners to <br />consider not enacting this proposal in its current state, but to provide Animal Control and <br />law enforcement additional monies to enforce current laws. <br />Lamar Chapman said that he spoke at the last meeting, but he said that he was <br />here to speak on behalf of some people that could not attend. He said that at the last <br />meeting people were saying that dogs had feelings and were emotional, etc. He said <br />that all dogs may not like chains, just like some people like coffee or tea. He said that <br />some dogs will run off if left out, but his dog will run around and then come home. He <br />said that this is not mistreatment. He read from something: "We are our own town; we <br />don't care how other counties are run. If they said, `jump in front of a bus,' would you do <br />it? Everything they have presented us with is from another county. It is not from Orange <br />County. We are our own county.° He said that the committee should have talked to the <br />people in the community and not people from other counties. He said that most of the <br />people that are for the anti-tethering ordinance were not even raised in Orange County. <br />He said that if this ordinance is passed, his dogs will go to another residence in another <br />county. <br />Eliana Beattie does not live in Orange County, but she works at the animal <br />shelter. She read a letter signed by nine local veterinarians: <br />"To the Board of County Commissioners: <br />We, the undersigned veterinarians who practice in and around Orange County <br />urge the Board of County Commissioners to vote in favor of the Animal Control <br />Ordinance amendment to restrict the practice of tethering dogs and establish minimum <br />kennel sizes for dogs. <br />We agree with the Tethering Committee's findings that: <br />- Prolonged tethering deprives dogs of necessary exercise and socialization; <br />- Tethered dogs can and do contribute to various community nuisance issues <br />such as barking and pet overpopulation; <br />- Tethered dogs can and do pose a risk to public safety and health because <br />they may become aggressive and they are not confined behind a barrier. <br />In addition, as veterinarians, we believe that chained dogs are subjected to a <br />variety of dangers, including trachea damage from pulling on the chain; embedded <br />collars; and injuries sustained in attacks from free-roaming dogs. <br />There are many alternatives to chaining available, including adequately-sized <br />pens, fences, and simply keeping dogs inside and walking them several times a day. <br />By voting in favor of this amendment, the BOCC will be taking a positive step <br />toward protecting the public and improving the treatment of dogs in our community. We <br />urge you to do so without delay. <br />Sincerely, <br />Soren Windram, DVM, New Hope Animal Hospital <br />26 <br />