[ SHOWGSD-L ] PAWS effect already
- From: RihadinK9@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 15:49:25 EDT
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Animal ordinance revisions OK'd
September 22,2005
BY JOE MILLER
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Cats won't have to be on a leash, but many animal breeders would have to
register with the county.
That's if the Onslow County Board of Commissioners approves a revised animal
control ordinance. The county Board of Health unanimously signed off on the
plan Tuesday night.
County Attorney Ron vonLembke indicated many residents said putting cats on
a leash wasn't practical.
"I got a chuckle if not an outright guffaw in response (from people)," he
said.
VonLembke also found that most cat complaints arose from free-roaming
felines whose owners did not try to keep them confined. He recommended the
county
focus instead on preventing stray animals. The law would prohibit animals,
including cats, from roaming off its owner's property.
"We wanted to put the responsibility and burden on people that don't keep
track of their cats," said commissioner and health board member Martin Aragona
Jr.
Jacksonville resident Eddie Quinn adamantly spoke in favor of requiring cats
to be on a leash. He said cats and dogs should not be treated differently.
Quinn is a candidate in the November race for Jacksonville City Council.
"Both can cause property damage and injury or death unless properly
restrained," he told the Board of Health. "Some members of this board, I
believe, are
biased in favor of cat owners and prefer to abdicate their responsibilities
to provide fair equitable protection to all citizens, including non-cat
owners."
Board member Dr. Tracy Custis-Raynor responded by saying dogs are more
easily trained than cats, and so guidelines for dogs are expected to be
different.
The ordinance would also regulate large-volume breeders and so-called "puppy
mills." The county doesn't regulate puppy mills now.
VonLembke said Congress is considering legislation requiring the Food and
Drug Administration to regulate and inspect puppy mills, but he said the
county
doesn't have to wait for Congress to act.
"If and when the federal legislation is passed, we as a county have the
right to have stricter requirements," he said.
The county's proposal defines a large-volume breeder as "any person,
corporation, owner or keeper that sells at retail or wholesale any dog or cat
for
any purpose."
However, it would not apply to retail pet stores that obtain all dogs and
cats at wholesale from other sources, nonprofit animal rescue groups and
anyone
who in a calendar year sells a maximum of 25 dogs or cats to the public or
does not give birth to more than six litters of dogs or cats and sells only
dogs or cats bred or raised on the owner's property to people buying an animal
for personal enjoyment.
Large-volume breeders would have to register with the county Health
Department, keep records of everyone from whom dogs or cats were purchased and
be
subject to inspections without prior notice.
Commissioners deferred action on the ordinance in June as many complained
about plans to define a puppy mill as an operation with more than eight
non-neutered or non-spayed dogs 4 months of age or older.
VonLembke said if the ordinance is adopted, animal control will visit all
known large-volume breeders and present owners with copies of the
requirements,
but officers won't start immediately writing citations.
"They want to give people an opportunity to see what it is they have to do,"
he said.
There have been numerous complaints over the past few years to Onslow County
Animal Control about Rosie Harper, who has sold dogs from her property on
N.C. 24 behind BNS Printing. Harper has maintained she doesn't operate a puppy
mill.
"We're satisfying the reputable breeders and at the same time we're going to
take care of those facilities that are abusing and neglecting animals,"
Aragona said.
Commissioners could vote on the ordinance at their meeting Oct. 3.
Ginger Cleary, Rome, GA
"Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security, will not
have, nor do they deserve, either one." Benjamin Franklin.
_http://www.rihadin.com_ (http://www.rihadin.com/)
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