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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 6, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. (p - q <br />_SUBJECT: Proposed Animal Ordinance Amendment Restricting the Tetherin of Do s <br />DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proposed Ordinance Amendment <br />Previous Abstracts and Supporting <br />Documents (Under Separate Cover) <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services <br />968-2287 <br />PURPOSE: To adopt the proposed amendment to the Orange County Animal Ordinance <br />restricting the tethering of dogs. <br />BACKGROUND: The BOCC has received considerable information about the tethering <br />amendment proposed by the Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) based upon the research <br />and report of the Tethering Committee. The Committee's recommendations and the proposed <br />amendment include the following restrictions on tethering and alternative containment of dogs: <br />• No more than a total of 3 hours of tethering within a 24-hour period <br />• A specification of the types of collars and equipment permissible for allowed tethering <br />• A requirement for minimum kennel sizes <br />• An exemption for certain organized and lawful animal functions and circumstances <br />The proposed amendment is formulated so there is an 18-month implementation period to <br />ensure effective public outreach and encourage voluntary compliance. An initial twelve-month <br />period will consist of public outreach activities aimed at promoting awareness of the new <br />restrictions on tethering and requirements of alternative containment. In addition, the <br />amendment stipulates only warnings would be issued for lack of compliance with the tethering <br />restrictions during the six-month period following the date the ordinance actually becomes <br />effective. <br />The BOCC considered an ordinance amendment at its Work Session on September 22, 2008, <br />at its meeting on June 3, 2008, at the public hearing on May 20, 2008, and at an earlier Work <br />Session on November 13, 2007. All meeting and session abstracts with their supporting <br />documents are attached. All supporting documents are also available in hard copy at the <br />Clerk's Office or at the Animal Services website (http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices). <br />These include a staff summary of concerns expressed by individuals who spoke for and against <br />tethering at the May 20th and June 3~d BOCC meetings, as well as the Tethering Committee's <br />