By JOY CRIST
In an effort to safeguard humane treatment for animals, Commissioners approved an ordinance that establishes regulations for the tethering of dogs in the unincorporated areas of Dare County at the recent Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting on May 15.
The ordinance, which was presented to the BOC by Commissioner Ross, essentially makes it unlawful for a dog to be restrained or tethered for more than three hours in a 24-hour period.
?This ordinance came out of a citizen complaint about an animal that was on a short tether and that appeared to be un-kept,? said County Manager Bobby Outten at the meeting. ?The SPCA has been on top of it, and Commissioner Ross has taken an interest because I think that the citizen contacted him directly, and so this is what we brought before you to consider and to discuss.?
?A concerned citizen did approach me about a situation where a dog appeared to be in a distressed or a less-than-adequate situation,? said Commissioner Ross. ?I pursued it and followed up with County Manager Outten, and he has been extremely instrumental, as has Donna Creef [Planning Director], in drafting this ordinance as an attempt to remedy a situation with appropriate ordinance and enforcement capabilities??
?In our county we simply won?t allow animal abuse to happen. We won?t do it,? he added.
Ross attested that the drafted ordinance had ?adequate definitions and prescription of remedy,? with the first offense generally resulting in a warning.
?It?s not an attempt to play a ?gotcha? with the owner, it?s an attempt to call attention to a situation and remedy a problem,? he said.
John Graves, Program Director of the Outer Banks SPCA, also spoke at the meeting and provided follow-up on the dog who launched the ordinance.
?I want to thank Bobby and Donna ? this is an incredibly well-written ordinance, and this has actually been on my ?bucket list? of things I wanted to make sure got done as director,? said Graves.
He then went on to tell the story behind the ordinance, which starts with a local pit bull mix named Angel.
?There are many reasons why people end up tethering their dogs but no one does it with cruel intentions,? said Graves. While actions leading to tethering are broad and complicated, it is most often in an effort to keep their dog safe? to prevent them from running away, being struck by a car, acting as a nuisance, or to keep them from acting – or being perceived as acting – in a menacing or aggressive manner.?
This was the case with Angel.
?This owner loves this dog and spends as much time with her as he can,? said Graves, adding that the owner takes Angel on car trips and walks when he is home, and has also moved several times but has kept Angel with him instead of turning her in to a shelter. ?He has never given up on her.?
?Thanks to the generosity of a member from the public, Angel is getting a brand new set-up,? said Graves, noting that this new arrangement includes a larger chain link kennel as opposed to the former tether, and even a new dog house.
Graves also asked the commissioners for $3,000 to create a fund ?to help bring these owners into compliance of the ordinance, and help all the ?Angels? in the county.?
The ordinance essentially outlines a series of requirements to ensure dogs are treated in a safe and humane manner.
This includes ensuring the dog has adequate food, water, and shelter, and that the dog is not restrained with a chain, wire or other type of tethering device on a vacant or unoccupied property for more three hours in a 24?hour period. During this period, any tethering device used must be at least ten feet in length, and attached in such a manner as to prevent strangulation or other injury to the dog, and entanglement with objects.
The first offense can lead to a citation and a possible $100.00 fee. (If the dog is not spayed or neutered, the fee may be voided in lieu of the owner having the pet spayed or neutered by a veterinarian, and providing to the animal control officer documented proof of such within 14 days.)
The second offense is subject to a class 3 misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500.00, and forfeiture of the dog to Dare County Animal Control.
The ordinance was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners, and the request for $3,000 will be considered at the upcoming Commissioners Budget Workshop.
You can see the full ordinance that was provided to the Board of Commissioners in the May 15 Agenda here.
