Agenda - 12/11/2008 - 7b late - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 11, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. ?~ SUBJECT: Public Relations and Evaluation Plans for Tethering Ordinance DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Public Relations Plan INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Marotto, Director, Animal Services 968-2287 PURPOSE: To receive the public relations plan and evaluation process for the recently adopted amendment that will restrict the tethering of dogs in Orange County. BACKGROUND: At its November 18'h, meeting the BOCC, on second reading, adopted an amendment to the County's animal control ordinance that restricts the tethering of dogs. Effective one year from its adoption, the amendment limits the tethering of dogs to no more than a total of 3 hours within a 24-hour period while creating a number of exemptions that include tethered dogs that are accompanied by and in the sight of a responsible person. In adopting the amendment, the BOCC asked staff to return with a public outreach plan and a plan for evaluating the tethering ordinance. Staff has developed a public relations plan modeled after the successful plan recently conducted in regard to the County's new animal fees and fines. The plan is intended to raise awareness of the new ordinance, the date it becomes effective, and how it will be enforced. Staff expects to further discuss the public relations plan with the Animal Services Advisory Board in January and through that discussion further develop some of the component parts of the plan. The attached outreach plan consists of a number of major components. These include: a media advisory; a flyer; public service announcements; display advertisements; and a brochure with frequently asked questions (FAQ). (Samples of these are in appendices to the plan.) All outreach is intended to ensure that individual dog owners and other County residents are aware of the tethering ordinance amendment and its implementation. The FAQ brochure is expected to not only provide general information but be helpful to and assist dog owners that will need to make a transition away from the tethering of a household dog. There will be some reference to the assistance in fence building available from the Coalition to Unchain Dogs as well as an inventory of fencing and enclosure options and some discussion of the benefits of obedience training and pet sterilization.