HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 20, 2013
Animal Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes, 03/20/2013
Specific Topic: Ordinance Changes
Attendees:
Members- B.B. Langham, Linda Finnegan, Jennifer White, Lorna Barrett,
Debbie Prince, Randy Wishard
AAS Staff- Sharon Broady, Priscilla Crisler, Edward Jefferson
Absent- Aimee Murphy, Julie Tillery
The plan for the meeting was to discuss and update any ordinances that the board felt should be
updated, or be more specific. The amendments listed below were discussed at length by the
board members present. It is our hope that we can give our recommended updates to the
Richmond County Law Department, and receive their help to word them appropriately and to
merge them into the current set of ordinances as soon as it is possible to do so.
Ordinances-
4-1-4 We recommend that we add that Commissioners must appoint members to the Advisory
Board, either from their district or the county at large.
In definitions,
Adequate water (ref-Bibb Co.) should be cool in the summer and not frozen during winter.
Recommended and accepted.
Sanitary conditions- (ref-Bibb Co.) add that a dog’s living space must include adequate space so
as to be able to defecate or urinate in an area separate from where he must eat, drink or lie down.
Excrement must be cleaned up and removed regularly to keep living area sanitary.
Recommended and accepted.
Hoarding animals-(ref-ASPCA) Animal hoarding is a complex and intricate public health and
community issue. Its effects are far reaching and encompass mental health, animal welfare and
public safety concerns. Criteria-Having more than 10 (ten) companion animals and the inability
to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care, with this
neglect often resulting in starvation, illness and/or death. (Originally recommended with no limit
as to number of animals) However, after discussion, and information that the number
recommended by the Public Health Department should not exceed 10 animals, the number 10
should be inserted.
It is our recommendation to mirror the limit of animals (dogs, cats, etc.) at 10, as recommended
by the Richmond County Public Health Department in their proposals.
The ordinance regarding Unattended animals in vehicles, revised in 2012, as written by the Law
Department should be added to the ordinance list.
Transporting dogs in the bed of a pickup truck shall be unlawful unless dog is secured inside a
container, crate or an acceptable enclosure intended for the safe transport of dogs, and must have
proper ventilation. We seek to prevent the animal from being thrown, falling or jumping from the
vehicle, which can cause severe harm and/or death to the dog, as well as the public.
After much discussion, back and forth, it was the decision of the board to recommend banning
tethering. Many on the board feel that tethering a dog should be unlawful and banned. Tethering
makes animals more aggressive, more likely to bite children. Tethered dogs are often the victims
of abuse and neglect, suffering from sporadic feedings, empty water bowls, inadequate veterinary
care and exposure to weather extremes. Many are forced to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in the
same confined area, which goes against their natural instincts. Tethered dogs also suffer neck
injuries from collars that have become embedded into their skin-some even strangle to death
when chains become entangled with other objects. Chained in place, they are also helpless to
defend themselves against abusive people, stray dogs and wild animals who may invade their
space. Tethered dogs become unsocial, bored, frustrated and aggressive. In addition, unaltered,
chained female dogs are likely to attract strays, leading to unwanted litters.
If a dog must be outside, a fenced yard is safer for the animal and the public. Instead of giving a
page of stipulations, descriptions and requirements, that are largely unenforceable, we feel that
the public should be made aware that after a certain date, tethering will become illegal.
Other issues discussed that warranted no changes were: evidence of vaccines (not requiring cats
to wear collars), abandonment, dogfighting (since it is a state law with a felony attached to it).
Additionally, we discussed that Commissioner Williams is willing to appoint a new board
member, and that Ms Willene Colvin will be filing papers to fill the position.
We discussed licensing again, with ideas brought up by Mr Langham such as $5.00 fee to
grandfather pets in that are spayed/neutered and vaccinated for rabies already. We decided to do
more research and try to find ways to make licensing more palatable to the general public, and
better ways to enact licensing that will be more acceptable to the general public as well.
We discussed doing more PR for Animals Services in general, and having a fun, family day on
the property. We need to do more ‘advertising’ for Animal Services, to let people know all the
good things that are accomplished, and exactly where it is located.
th
Items on the agenda to be discussed at the next meeting, scheduled for May 29, at 5:30pm
include:
**Family Fun Day at Animal Services, with lots for kids to do
**Emergency Preparedness
Gathering more volunteers, supplies, sending letters to veterinarians, boarders, groomers,
rescues, etc., for help with emergency preparedness
**Info on Licensing, and getting it on the ballot for public vote
**Publicity about new ordinances so that people are aware of proper pet owner responsibilities
In the way of advertising for the AAS Dept., and general responsible pet ownership, Ms.
Prince and Ms Barrett discussed putting together a flyer of “Did you know…” about new laws,
when dogs are lost (or found) call AAS first, that pets are available to adopt already
spayed/neutered, vaccinated, wormed and micro-chipped, and can then be viewed at
www.petharbor.com. We would like to discuss this at the next meeting as well, and get more
input from our team.
Meeting was concluded at 7:15pm
Minutes submitted by Lorna Barrett