Public hearing to be held August 25, 2008 at 7 PM at the Durham County Government Administrative Complex, 2nd floor, Commissioners' Meeting Room, 200 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701.
In the proposed revisions tethering will now be included as *animal abuse* in the county ordinance. Also to be included is a requirement for 100 SF unobstructed living area per 20 pound animal and 200 SF per each animal weighing greater than 20 pounds.
The anti-tethering addition reads as follows:
(6) Tethering an animal except in the following circumstances: Tethering for a period not to exceed 7 days while actively engaged in:
A. shepherding or herding livestock
B. lawful dog activities such as hunting training and hunting sporting events, field and obedience training, field or water training, law enforcement training, veterinary treatment and/or the pursuit of working or competing in these legal endeavors
C. meeting the requirements of a camping or recreational area
When participating in recognized exempt activities, tethered dogs shall be attended by a responsible person and shall be tethered in a manner that does not cause unjustifiable pain, suffering or risk of death.
The proposed revisions were drafted by the Durham County Animal Control Advisory Committee (ACAC), chaired by Amanda Arrington of Coalition to Unchain Dogs. Arrington is also the newly appointed state director for HSUS. Arrington is quoted in the Herald Sun as saying, “chaining or tethering dogs creates a public safety hazard, creates a public nuisance, is linked to dog fighting and illegal drugs and is inhumane.”
Rules for Public Comment on Agenda Items
- Everyone wishing to address the Board must sign up prior to the start of the meeting.
- If you have signed up to speak, the Board Chairman will call your name at the appropriate time. Please proceed to the podium located at the left front of the room and await your turn.
- Each individual shall only be entitled to their allotted 2 minutes (for consent agenda items) or 3 minutes, plus an additional 3 minutes if yielded to him/her by another person who has signed up to speak (for regular agenda items and public hearings). Time allotment is at the discretion of the Board Chairman.
You may also call in your request to the Clerk to the Board’s Office at 919-560-0025.
Contact information:
Ellen W. Reckhow, Chairman
T: 919.383.3883 (H) F: 919.383.3833
ereckhow@aol.com
Michael D. Page, Vice Chairman
T : 919.361.2146 (H) F : 919.806.0866
mpage@durhamcountync.gov
Lewis Cheek
T: 919.401.8538
lewis_cheek@nc.rr.com
Philip R. Cousin, Jr.
T: 919.683.1379 F: 919.572.9161
prcousin@earthlink.net
Becky Heron
T : 919.489.4402 (H) F : 919.419.1398
bmheron@durhamcountync.gov
Mike Ruffin, County Manager
T: 919.560.0000 F: 919.560.0020
county_manager@durhamcountync.gov
Please cross post widely.
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North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance (NCRAOA)
www.ncraoa.com
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance (SAOVA)
www.saova.org
