AGENDA DATE: 8/8/2018
TITLE:
Title
Ordinance to Amend County Code Chapter 4, Animals and Fowl
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Schedule a public hearing on an ordinance to amend Chapter 4, Animals and Fowl
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Farley, Wells
PRESENTER (S): Greg Kamptner, Amanda Farley
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Board has directed the County Attorney's Office to conduct a comprehensive review and recodification of the County Code. Chapter 4 of the County Code pertains to animals and the regulations in the chapter range from licensing dogs, dangerous dogs, vicious dogs, and dogs running at large to animal welfare. Chapter 4's animal welfare regulations include standards of care to be provided to companion animals; prohibits cruelty to animals, abandonment, and other acts; establishes requirements for rabies control; and establishes penalties for animals owners and procedures and requirements for seizing, impounding, and disposing of animals under prescribed circumstances.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations: Ensure County's government capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: Chapter 4 is enabled by the Comprehensive Animal Care Law (Virginia Code ? 3.2-6500 et seq.) ("State Law"). State Law enables localities to adopt local ordinances pertaining to some, but not all, of its subjects, and requires that local ordinances be consistent with State Law. There are subjects, however, where State Law enables localities to adopt regulations that are "more stringent" than State Law. For example, the definitions and regulations pertaining to commercial dog breeding are two subjects where State Law does not enable local regulation. On the other hand, regulations pertaining to cruelty to animals and dispositions following a court determination that an animal has been abandoned, cruelly treated, or s...
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