AGENDA DATE: 6/5/2019
TITLE:
Title
Ordinance to Amend County Code Chapter 4, Animals, Article 1, Administration
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Public hearing to consider an ordinance to amend County Code Chapter 4, Animals, Article 1, Administration, to revise the definitions of "Adequate shelter" and "Adequate space."
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Farley, Walls, Lantz
PRESENTER (S): Greg Kamptner
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B Richardson
BACKGROUND: The 2019 General Assembly amended Virginia Code ? 3.2-6500 to expand the definition of "Adequate shelter" to address the protection of animals during hot and cold weather, and to expand the definition of "Adequate space" to address tethering restrictions.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations: Ensure County's government capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: The County's Animal Ordinance includes definitions for "Adequate shelter" and "Adequate space." The attached proposed ordinance (Attachment A) would amend County Code ? 4-103 to incorporate the amendments to Virginia Code ? 3.2-6500.
Specifically, the ordinance would:
-Require that animals be provided shelter that is properly shaded and that does not readily conduct heat during hot weather;
-Require that animals be provided shelter that has a windbreak at its entrance and that has bedding that is sufficient to protect the animal from cold and protect the retention of body heat during cold weather;
-Require that tethered animals, other than agricultural animals, have tethers that are at least 10 feet in length, do not have any characteristic that cause injury or pain to the animal; do not weigh more than one-tenth of the animals' body weight; and do not have weights or heavy objects attached to it; and
-Clarifies that the walking of an animal on a leash by its owner does not constitute the tethering of the animal for purpo...
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