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Pet owners under tighter laws
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer BROOKSVILLE -- Cats will not have to wear collars or be physically restrained under Hernando County's revised animal control rules, which won unanimous approval Tuesday. Commissioners agreed after listening to cat owners' complaints that such restrictions could prove harmful, and removed them from the ordinance. The rule does not allow cats to roam freely, though, Code Enforcement director Frank McDowell III said. "People must be responsible owners," he said. Staff members could not come up with such easy answers to concerns about license fees and breeding animals in residential areas, though. So the commission left those issues for another day, allowing the staff more time to research ideas such as using microchips for identification and offering reduced fees to owners who keep their animals properly immunized. In the meantime, McDowell said, the existing rules will remain in effect. Just eight residents spoke about the proposal, down from two weeks ago when cat owners came in droves. Some spoke of how their pets had been attacked by larger dogs they considered dangerous, and called for even tougher constraints on dangerous dogs. At least two people worried about a provision to charge people who make the same animal complaint several times, if their complaint cannot be verified. Commissioner Diane Rowden pointed out that a $20 charge would be assessed only against people who make multiple frivolous complaints. Based on residents' comments, commissioners made some minor adjustments to the ordinance before adopting it. Most of the major provisions, which dealt with dogs, were settled two weeks earlier. The county had received several comments that the rules to get action on nuisance and barking dogs were too tough, and those to control dangerous dogs were too lax. As a result, the Animal Services division recommended reducing the number of complainants about a barking dog from three to one. They also proposed increasing the distance from which a person who heard the noise could complain, from 500 feet to 1,000 feet. To deal with dangerous dogs, the staff recommended higher fines and tougher controls. Owners of dangerous dogs would become responsible for all fees associated with the investigation, boarding, hearing and other items related to their dogs. The dogs would have to wear a special license at all times, and the license fee will increase. If a dog is found without its license, its owner faces a $500 fine. The dogs also must be surgically sterilized. The ordinance also requires all animals to be spayed or neutered before leaving a shelter. For additional information, call the Animal Services division at 796-5062.
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From today's Hernando Times |
