New animal ordinance introduced by board
Members of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners have reviewed a proposed animal ordinance and will be seeking public input on it at their next regularly scheduled meeting, December 8. The first draft was scrapped back in March after the public health and safety committee decided the proposed ordinance wouldn’t suit Presque Isle County. The committee was instructed by the board to come up with initial guidelines, but a decision was made to start all over again. The commissioners want an ordinance to regulate the existence, ownership, use and treatment of dogs, cats and other animals in the county for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the citizens. In addition, the board would like to have an animal control officer whose sole job is to respond to animal complaints and have the position funded from license fees administered through the county treasurer’s office.
AT PRESENT, animal control officer Dave Tomas spends some of his time serving as a court officer. On circuit court motion days, which are conducted twice a month, Tomas will typically be in court from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. “He’s not been able to act on complaints,” said committee chair Mike Darga. “I’ve received several calls, probably more than I’ve had on anything else we’ve ever talked about. Something needs to be done about it,” said chairman Allan Bruder. “Hopefully we can increase the amount of licenses we sell so we can afford part time animal control. That’s our ultimate goal,” said Cornett. Darga said, “If we’re not going to enforce it, there is no sense in adopting it.”
MEMBERS OF the public health and safety committee met earlier this month with Cornett and sheriff Terry Flewelling to prepare the latest version. Cornett said the ordinance is more specific and offers definitions of what a nuisance is. The proposed ordinance describes a “public nuisance” as an animal that unreasonably endangers the life or health of other animals or people, or substantially interferes with life or property. The term public nuisance shall include any animal that: is repeatedly found at large; damages the property of anyone other than its owners; molests or intimidates pedestrians or passersby; chases vehicles; excessively makes disturbing noises, such as continued barking, howling, whining or other noises that disturb neighbors; or attacks other domestic animals.
THE LICENSE FEES for 2005 are $4 for neutered or spayed animals and $6 for a male or a female. County residents who haven’t purchased a license for their animals by June 1 will pay delinquent costs of $10 for neutered or spayed animals and $8 for male and females. “We are anticipating an increase for 2006,” said Cornett. The ordinance also defines mistreatment of animals. “No person shall beat, torment, overload, overwork, or otherwise abuse an animal, or cause, instigate, or per
Darga said the draft is going to mirror the state statute. One of the major issues from earlier this year was a restriction on the number of pets a resident could house. There is no provision in the new ordinance.
“IF A PERSON wants to have 10 dogs he’s going to have to pay the fees. There is no limit because of the fact that there are a lot of hunters around,” said Darga. With problems from the last couple of years from people being attacked by animals, barking dog complaints, and dogs killing farm animals, Bruder hopes the new ordinance will be tougher. The ordinance will be on the next agenda and public input will be sought at the meeting. Copies of the proposed ordinance are available at the treasurer’s office, from Tomas, and at the sheriff’s department.