GA: Spalding County Tables Animal Restraint Changes/Tethering Ban

Commissioners table animal restraint changes
by Ray Lightner Griffin Daily News

Recommended changes to the county’s animal restraint rules have been tabled.

“After many months,” said County Manager William Wilson Jr., “the (Animal Care and Control) Advisory Board has finally finished its recommendation to us.”

However, the Spalding County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to table the recommendations from the Advisory Board.

“There are some things I agree with and some I don’t,” Board of Commissioners Chairman Eddie Freeman said.

“There are a lot of issues we need to look at,” said Freeman, who proposed a workshop. “There are some issues we need to tweak.”

The commissioners also instructed the Advisory Board to come up with another recommendation on pen sizes for small, medium-size and large dogs. The current recommendation is 100 square feet for a single dog and another 50 square feet for each additional dog.

“There needs to be a formula for containment,” said Commissioner Gwen Flowers-Taylor. “A Shih Tzu or Schnauzer doesn’t need 100 feet.”

Wilson asked the commissioners, “Do you want it to be countywide and complaint-driven?” He also asked if commissioners want a minimum pen size and a ban on tethering.

Flowers-Taylor asked about the number of pets. Advisory Board Chairman Kelly Palmatier said, “It really is arbitrary. It is about the level of care.”

Palmatier said the current restraint districts are a “hodgepodge. The recommended changes simplify enforcement and understanding.”

The commissioners will take up the proposed changes at a workshop as part of a called meeting in October at which the board will also set the millage rate. The date of that meeting has not been set. The commissioners’ regular first meeting of the month on Oct. 3 has been canceled.

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