No leash law but additional personnel possible
The words "leash law" were seldom used but County Health Director Denese Stallings said she wants to add two additional animal control officers to help with nuisances.
"Rabies, dog bites and dangerous dogs. These are things that we have to deal with," said Stallings. "Comparing to other counties we are significantly understaffed. Right now were running a skeleton crew."
She didn't use the leash law terms directly but said she wanted to see if extra patrols works.
"I’d like to try this first and see if it works," said Stallings.
Hawkins said he was concerned that the state is ranked 4th in the state in rabies cases. He also said he was upset about the number of cats put to death.
"I don’t think we can continue in the mode that we are in now," said Hawkins. "When does the rabies issues stop. I’m looking for a solution and I’m getting aggravated because I can’t find one. There’s got to be some method."
It doesn't appear a leash law will move forward. The commissioners have said the ordinances on the book are suitable but just need to be enforced.
"I doesn’t matter if we have laws on the books if we don’t have the workers to enforce it," said Commissioner Mary Accor. "Adequate staffing is definitely a key."
Commissioner Eddie Holbrook agreed.
"The ordinances we have know are acceptable it just a manpower problem," said Holbrook.
The commissioners approved hiring two additional animal control officers in fiscal year 2008-09 but the motion. They also instructed the county manager to explore options of using current employees and increase their pay instead of hiring two additional employees.
The commissioners also scheduled a public hearing in order for the them to vote on whether to allow the county attorney to pursue legal fees for when the health department takes people to court for failing to pay their fines. Right now, Stallings said it’s not cost effective to pursue those fines with the court costs.
"Rabies, dog bites and dangerous dogs. These are things that we have to deal with," said Stallings. "Comparing to other counties we are significantly understaffed. Right now were running a skeleton crew."
She didn't use the leash law terms directly but said she wanted to see if extra patrols works.
"I’d like to try this first and see if it works," said Stallings.
Hawkins said he was concerned that the state is ranked 4th in the state in rabies cases. He also said he was upset about the number of cats put to death.
"I don’t think we can continue in the mode that we are in now," said Hawkins. "When does the rabies issues stop. I’m looking for a solution and I’m getting aggravated because I can’t find one. There’s got to be some method."
It doesn't appear a leash law will move forward. The commissioners have said the ordinances on the book are suitable but just need to be enforced.
"I doesn’t matter if we have laws on the books if we don’t have the workers to enforce it," said Commissioner Mary Accor. "Adequate staffing is definitely a key."
Commissioner Eddie Holbrook agreed.
"The ordinances we have know are acceptable it just a manpower problem," said Holbrook.
The commissioners approved hiring two additional animal control officers in fiscal year 2008-09 but the motion. They also instructed the county manager to explore options of using current employees and increase their pay instead of hiring two additional employees.
The commissioners also scheduled a public hearing in order for the them to vote on whether to allow the county attorney to pursue legal fees for when the health department takes people to court for failing to pay their fines. Right now, Stallings said it’s not cost effective to pursue those fines with the court costs.
posted by Pete DeLea at
2:16 PM
3 Comments:
Pete,
I believe the motion that passed directed the County Manager to investigate adding an animal control officer in the 08/09 budget and also adding an officer in the 09/10 budget, and to also investigate alternatively training current county employees who travel the county to be enforce the animal control ordinance in addition to their other duties. There was discussion of not hiring the two additional officers but rather training other current employees regarding animal control enforcement and paying those persons more for those increased duties using money saved by not hiring the two additional officers. I cannot remember if this detail actually made it into the motion or not.
I do not feel that only two officers can adequately take care of the entire county! If their duties are increased, this will only add to the already burdened program. It's a crying shame for the animals.
I wish I could have been there. I totally agree with Hawkins about the number of cats who are gassed every single week! Dogs, too. Of course, it is the fault of the humans. Something has to be done, but I do not feel that a leash law will fix the real problem.
Although many who have the means, refuse to spay and neuter, I feel that more would come forward if the procedure were not so costly. There are areas that have vet rosters where all of the vets on the list have agreed to do the surgery for much less, but some were asked in Cleveland County and not a single one of them would agree to it. AWA offers this for some who have rescued pets, but most people are not aware of it, and if they were, the money would run out faster than it already is.
I have to wonder if other areas have been studied. Why is this county so far behind and why do we STILL have rabies!? Are we SO backwards that this problem can't be eradicated? I told someone from another state about the TUBE out at the shelter and they were appalled. I'm not sure it still exist or not. I don't have the heart to go see.
There are a lot of residents who feel the same way I do, but we really have no direction. I do hope some answers are found soon.
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