County Considers Updated Animal Control Ordinance By Scott Nicholson Watauga’s updated animal control ordinance is still a long way from complete as planners seek more information before submitting the ordinance for a public hearing. The commissioners are planning a work session to review the ordinance, which has recommended provisions that could require the spaying and neutering of animals. The commissioners asked for more examples of similar ordinances used by other counties so they could be compared to the working draft. Lynn Northrup, shelter manager at the Humane Society, said the goal of a spay/neuter ordinance would be to reduce the animal population and therefore the number of animals put up for adoption or euthanized. The Humane Society supports an ordinance based on one that’s been in place in Buncombe County for two years. “It’s really making a big difference and the euthanasia rate has dropped,” Northrup said. “If you look nationwide, where this type of ordinance has been in place for 10 years, the animal population has dropped in half. We have a long waiting list, and Animal Control wouldn’t be euthanizing as many animals.” As proposed, the ordinance would change the animal control department to the “Animal and Rabies Control Department.” It would also add a definition of a “public nuisance” animal as one that “damages private or public property; interferes with or attacks a person or other animal; chases, snaps at, or harasses pedestrians, livestock, bicyclists or vehicles or by virtue of number is offensive or dangerous to public health, safety and/or welfare, or is diseased.” Rabies vaccination is already a requirement for all dogs and cats, and dogs should have the vaccine information on their tags. Cat owners would be required to retain evidence of the vaccination. Dog and cat owners would also be required to pay a “privilege tax” of $2 per year, or a lifetime tag for $10. The proposed draft would also toughen animal cruelty laws, requiring all chained animals to be on a swivel chain of at least eight feet in length. Animal cruelty would result in a fine of up to $100 as well as possible criminal charges. As proposed, the ordinance would broaden the authority of animal control officers in making determinations of dangerous domestic dogs, including consideration of “vicious tendencies of some known breeds such as Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Pit Bull or any other dog of known vicious tendencies.” The ordinance would also make distinctions between a “dangerous animal” and a “potentially dangerous animal,” based on prior behavior, with the animal control department having authority to seize the dog for inspection. The department would also have authority to place restrictions on the dog, such as confining it to the owners’ property or to be on a leash or muzzle. Any stray animals would have to be reported to the Animal Control Department. The Watauga Humane Society has been lobbying for the spay/neuter ordinance, though it’s not in the current draft. In a letter to the county government from Northrup and volunteer Kathy Copley, such an ordinance or provision would reduce the number of animals handled by both the animal shelter and the Animal Control Department. The letter said Buncombe County saw a 15 percent decline in animal cases while Watauga saw an increase last year. The letter said, “We understand that there are concerns that this provision will be difficult or costly to enforce, that people will turn their kittens and puppies loose in the woods rather than face a citation for turning them in to Animal Control, that responsible pet owners will be forced to scoff at the law if they cannot afford to comply, or that people will relinquish their adult animals to Animal Control rather than face a citation or pay for surgery to alter the animal.” The letter said Buncombe had not seen those problems because the requirement is only triggered if the animal or owner is in violation of other sections of the ordinance. Northrup and Copley said responsible pet owners would not be subject to the spay/neuter requirement. They also said it would reduce costs to the county by reducing the need for additional animal control staff to deal with a burgeoning animal population. Northrup emphasized that the ordinance wouldn’t necessarily affect all pet owners. “In order to get cited for having an unaltered pet, you’d have to break another ordinance,” she said. As proposed, the cited owner would get a warning citation and then have an opportunity to get the pet spay or neutered before paying a fine. Owners could also opt for a $100 tag that would prevent the animal’s alteration. “We want to put the responsibility back on the pet owner,” Northrup said. “if you breed animals, you should be responsible for the litter for the rest of their lives. The responsibility has been on the county, taxpayers and the Humane Society for so many years. “Responsible pet owners won’t have to worry,” she added. “If pets are licensed, have rabies shots and aren’t running around killing other animals or biting people, they’re fine. Hunters and breeders are not the problem.” The current draft of the ordinance can be seen at the county’s web site at http://www.wataugacounty.org.