Pender County, NC: Neighbors push for stronger animal control in Pender County

This is a situation to keep an eye on. Effective non-breed-specific ordinances should be suggested to county commissioners.

Next County Commission meeting: December 14, 7:00 PM
BOCC Meeting Room, Pender County Admin. Building, 805 S. Walker St. Burgaw, NC 28425

Commissioners’ Contact Info:

Jimmy Tate – Chairman (5th District)
university@ec.rr.com
910-285-5444

George Brown – Vice Chairman (3rd District)
browng@pender-county.com
910-675-8653

David Williams, Jr. – Commissioner (1st District)
williamsd2@pender-county.com
Phone: 910-270-7757
Fax: 910-270-7757

Norwood Blanchard – Commissioner (2nd District)
blanchardn@pender-county.com
910-259-2003

F.D. Rivenbark – Commissioner (4th District)
rivenbarkf@pender-county.com
Phone: 910-259-2717
Fax: 910-259-7480

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091123/ARTICLES/911239988/1004?tc=autorefresh

Neighbors push for stronger animal control in Pender County

By K.J. Williams
Citydesk@StarNewsOnline.Com
Published: Monday, November 23, 2009 at 11:44 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, November 23, 2009 at 11:44 a.m.

Several Pender County residents are taking a grassroots approach to combating dog attacks by asking for stronger animal control ordinances.

After an attack last week that caused the death of a dog in Rocky Point, the owners and a neighbor voiced their complaints at a Nov. 17 county health board meeting. Animal control is overseen by the health department.

Stephanie McLendon, whose family’s 6-month-old terrier mix, Daisy, died soon after the Nov. 16 attack, said she plans to start a petition drive to institute a leash law in Eagles Ridge, a Rocky Point subdivision.

“There are a lot of children around here,” she said of the need for more control over animals.

McLendon’s neighbor, Kristal Moore, said they plan to attend the Pender County Commissioners meeting at noon on Dec. 14 to ask commissioners to outline specific procedures on dealing with dangerous dogs.

In May, the county commissioners unanimously rejected revised animal control ordinances recommended by Health Director Jack Griffith at a meeting heavily attended by hunters who opposed requiring pet licenses and licenses for larger kennels.

The issue of animal control ordinances was first raised by Commissioners Chairman Jimmy Tate after resident Ella West spoke at a February meeting about a dog attack that killed her pet dog, Jet.

Griffith said Thursday that the defeated revisions wouldn’t have an impact on dog attack incidents because they mainly addressed problems with puppy mills and rabies control.

But Tate said Friday that the commissioners need to revisit the issue.

“We need to do something that will work with the hunters as well as the pet owners,” he said.

In June, the board decided to address understaffing at the animal control department by adding two officers.

Steve Throneburg, the county’s animal control supervisor, said that has improved response times. “That was the biggest need, because of the number of complaints and the number of officers,” he said.

[Rest of article continues at link above; not much additional info]