Talk continued at a board of commissioners work session Tuesday on proposed changes to a dog control ordinance in Forsyth County regarding tethering or chaining of dogs.
Commissioners voted 4-0 — with Chairman Charles Laughinghouse absent — to discuss the matter again in an April 21 work session, then hold a public hearing May 7 to get input regarding the suggested animal control rules.
Proposed are several new elements to the current code, which include specifications on dog tethering and adequate amounts of food, water, shelter and space for animals.
County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the ordinance would make it unlawful “for the owner [of a dog] to restrain a dog by means of a tether, chain, cable, rope or cord unless the tether or restraint is being held by a competent person ... or unless the tether is used only temporarily ... three hours or less while the owner is at all times physically present with the dog.”
The board reached out to agencies like the Humane Society and animal control for input on the matter as well. Jarrard said those agencies “answered from more of a 10,000 foot level ... I didn’t see any ordinance verbiage. What I saw was on the matter of tethering versus no tethering.”
Commissioner Jim Harrell said he saw some issues with the wording of the ordinance.
“I definitely have some things I’d like to change or add to it ... it appears the board would like to do the same,” Harrell said.
The board postponed the issue in October 2007. It was removed from the agenda until recently, when Laughinghouse suggested the commission bring it forward again.
E-mail Frank Reddy at frankreddy@forsythnews.com.
Commissioners voted 4-0 — with Chairman Charles Laughinghouse absent — to discuss the matter again in an April 21 work session, then hold a public hearing May 7 to get input regarding the suggested animal control rules.
Proposed are several new elements to the current code, which include specifications on dog tethering and adequate amounts of food, water, shelter and space for animals.
County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the ordinance would make it unlawful “for the owner [of a dog] to restrain a dog by means of a tether, chain, cable, rope or cord unless the tether or restraint is being held by a competent person ... or unless the tether is used only temporarily ... three hours or less while the owner is at all times physically present with the dog.”
The board reached out to agencies like the Humane Society and animal control for input on the matter as well. Jarrard said those agencies “answered from more of a 10,000 foot level ... I didn’t see any ordinance verbiage. What I saw was on the matter of tethering versus no tethering.”
Commissioner Jim Harrell said he saw some issues with the wording of the ordinance.
“I definitely have some things I’d like to change or add to it ... it appears the board would like to do the same,” Harrell said.
The board postponed the issue in October 2007. It was removed from the agenda until recently, when Laughinghouse suggested the commission bring it forward again.
E-mail Frank Reddy at frankreddy@forsythnews.com.