[ SHOWGSD-L ] North Carolina (Henderson)Animal control ordinance passes
- From: Stormy435@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 16:45:37 EST
Listening to reason! I like this quote, found below, too.
"I think there are certain animals in the county that cause the majority of
the problems, like the county jail," Associate County Attorney Sarah Zambon
said.
Storm
http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080205/NEWS/802050322
Published Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Animal control ordinance passes
By James Shea
Times-News Staff Writer
The Henderson County Board of Commissioners debated an update to the animal
control ordinance for nearly an hour Monday night. Despite some reservations
and disagreements, the commissioners unanimously adopted the ordinance.
In December, staff presented the commissioners with an ordinance that
mandated spay and neutering. An animal would have been fixed if it was caught
by
animal control officers or violated rules like biting. The commissioners did
not
support the proposal.
"We heard very clearly from you that there is no mandatory alteration,"
Assistant County Manager Selena Coffey said.
She said the new version of the ordinance focused on education and fines. It
gives the public positive reasons to follow the law but also has punishments
in place if it is violated, Coffey said. She said the ordinance is complaint
driven. Animal control officers will only investigate a problem when someone
complains about a situation to the county.
For the first offense, the owner of an animal impounded by animal control
will be required to micro-chip the animal and be given educational material.
The
second offense is a $100 fine or attending a $25 education class. Any future
violation carries fines on an escalating scale.
The board asked staff if there were a lot of animals that get picked up by
animal control.
"I think there are certain animals in the county that cause the majority of
the problems, like the county jail," Associate County Attorney Sarah Zambon
said.
The ordinance establishes a program to help low-income residents spay and
neuter their pets. Called SNAP (spay-neuter assistance program), it gives
vouchers to people who want to adopt a pet from the county animal shelter but
do not
have the financial resources. The county also plans to distribute educational
material on the benefits of spaying and neutering and establish community
awareness events.
The commissioners had some disagreement over the kennel section of the code.
The ordinance called for any household with more than six animals to get a
kennel permit from the county.
"We are not saying you can't have more than seven animals, but there is a
process you have to go through," Coffey said.
Henderson County resident Mary Orr said she thought the provision was unfair.
It was adopted in the county's 2005 animal control ordinance, and she wanted
it changed. She said she takes good care of her animals and the county has no
right to tell her how many pets she can keep.
"Who is there to say you can't have six animals or 16 animals," Orr said,
adding, "You are not telling farmers how many cows they can have."
County Manager Steve Wyatt said the commissioners had to set some standard
for the community, but it was up to them to decide where they felt comfortable.
He said the number can be set higher or lower. The commissioners must decide
"at what point does it become a public nuisance," Wyatt said.
Some commissioners were worried about a litter of cats or puppies and the
litter raising the level of animals above the legal limit. It was suggested
breeders could get a temporary permit.
"I don't want to be licensing litters of puppies," Commissioner Chuck McGrady
said.
The board adopted the ordinance as presented by staff but instructed it to
study the kennel issue.
"You may never know what results come from your action.
But if you do nothing, there will be no result."
Mahatma Gandhi
Stormy Hope
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Dog's love is different, it requires no return
www.FairhopeGSD.www
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