Opinions still differ as citizens provide input for an animal control ordinance.
The proposed language to Ordinance No. 2017-12 remained unchanged after citizens weighed in Feb. 8. Approximately 40-50 people attended another meeting to voice their concerns in the Multipurpose Building in Callahan Feb. 15.
David Dinkins spoke to county officials with his leashed dog Jethro at his side. The Callahan resident said he tethers his dog for short periods as a way to discipline him. He stressed that tethering should be limited.
“He’s been tethered four times in his life,” the Callahan resident said. “If you can’t control your dog and teach your dog to do what he needs to do, you don’t need nothing. If you’ve got to put him on a chain and keep him on a chain, you don’t need him. It’s as simple as that.”
He also suggested that dogs be secured in the back of pickups.
“We took out any reference to transporting dogs, so that’s out,” Nassau County Attorney Mike Mullin said.
Under the proposal, only dogs or cats that are in good health and at least 6 months of age and within visible range of the owner or responsible party may be tethered. Exceptions to the rule include dogs or cats participating in organized events or used in farm operation.
Bryceville’s Mike Gordon suggested striking the 80-square-foot minimum space requirement for dog enclosures.
He said the language should be changed to provide “adequate space” to allow animals to easily sit, lie down, turn around and perform other body movements.
“I think that 80 square feet can be a bit excessive,” said Animal Services Director Tim Maguire, adding that most large dog kennels are at least 40 square feet. “That’s something we can look at.”
Gordon responded, “We just want to strike that and add sufficiently for the animal to move around.”
“That sounds like a reasonable concern,” Maguire responded.
Gordon asked why an animal had to be in visible range.
“Tethering with this definition is not cruelty to animals,” he said.
A group of citizens who approached the county commission wanted that portion included in the draft, according to Mullin.
“Certainly, the tethering is the board’s ultimate decision,” Mullin said.
Gordon also questioned the current language regarding “buckle-type nylon or leather collar or halter or harness, with a swivel hook and configured so as to protect the animal from injury and prevent entanglement with other objects and/or animals.”
He said that changing the collar descriptions to “system” would be simpler.
“I think like everything else in the legal world, unfortunately, we’d have to devise or create a definition of system,” Mullin said. “Because when the animal control officer goes out to enforce that or the deputy, the first thing the court’s going to look at is to see what’s the definition of system, if someone were cited. Because all these citations, even though the civil side will go to the county court – if it’s criminal, then it will be in the county court as a misdemeanor or to the circuit court as a felony. But we would need to try to define … if you had any thoughts as to what you think the definition of that system would be, you could certainly send those to Mr. Maguire.”
Animal activist Rebecca Ayers questioned whether animal control officers enforce violations. She held a stack of animal welfare check incidents that she said weren’t enforced. She also held photographs taken by fellow activist David Fashingbauer that depict tethered animals that appear to be unsupervised.
“Unfortunately, these pictures were taken after the initial change in the ordinance of the 12-hour rule,” she said. “These animals are still tethered. The tether too short for shelter, the tether too short to get to or return to water and food dishes. This is not acceptable and this is where I came from in the beginning and this is where I still am coming from. I understand the enclosure piece – size is questionable. I’m sure that Mr. Maguire and the commissioners can get together on a case-by-case basis and determine how that can be addressed. But again, this is complaint-driven.”
In response to her concerns, Maguire wrote via email Monday, “Our records are public. Ms. Ayers is entitled to her opinion. We follow state statutes and county ordinances. We do what we’re supposed to do – and that isn’t going to be enough for some people.”
Maguire anticipates that the updated ordinances will be enforced once it is finalized.
“I think that the community input has been great,” he noted. “There is no way to have specific plans prior to knowing what we are planning for. We are complaint-driven so we will continue to respond to the complaints we receive. I am confident we won’t have an issue with enforcement of animal cruelty. The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office has been very easy to work with and seems eager to assist us when need be. Although we try, you can never make every single person happy.”
All comments will be submitted to the Nassau Board of County Commissioners. Another fact-finding meeting is scheduled for March 6 in the James S. Page Governmental Complex in Yulee. A final meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Building March 13. Both meetings begin at 1 p.m. Office of Management and Budget Director/County Manager Shanea Jones, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office General Counsel Bobby Lippelman, who was absent, and Maguire and Mullin comprise the committee.