AGENDA DATE: 2/19/2020
TITLE:
Title
Ordinance to Amend County Code Chapter 4, Animals
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Adoption of an Ordinance to amend County Code Chapter 4, Animals, to revise the running at large provisions
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Farley, Lantz, Carr, Walls
PRESENTER (S): Greg Kamptner
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: County Code ? 4-225 provides that a dog is deemed to be running at large and subject to seizure when it is "not under the owner's or custodian's immediate control." Under this description, a dog may be "under the owner's or custodian's immediate control" even when it is not on a leash. As a result, dogs currently may be walked unleashed off of the owner's or custodian's property, subject to exceptions during lawful hunts and field trials. Since Chapter 4 was comprehensively amended in October 2018, some Board members have received complaints from constituents encountering dogs in public places that were not on leashes.
The Board held a public hearing on December 18, 2019 to consider an ordinance that would require dogs to be leashed when the dog is not on the owner's or custodian's property (the "leash law"), again subject to not only the exceptions for hunting and field trials, but also for training, in fenced dog parks or exercise areas, and certain service dogs. The leash law would have applied County-wide.
The Board received many public comments before and during the December 18 public hearing. Some comments supported the proposed ordinance, some opposed it, particularly if it was to apply to the County's agricultural zoning districts (the "Rural Areas" and the Monticello Historic districts, collectively, the "Rural Areas"), and some requested that the exceptions be broadened to apply in additional circumstances.
With respect to whether the leash law should apply in the Rural Areas, the Board discussed options r...
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