COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT |
|
|
For Immediate Release • February 6, 2012
Dog Tethering Proposal Needs More TimeHampton's Animal Control Advisory Committee is still working on its proposed ordinance for dog tethering in Hampton, and the vote originally announced for the February 8 City Council meeting will be rescheduled. Assistant City Manager Jimmy Gray will make a presentation to council at its afternoon work session that day, which beings at 1:00PM, to discuss the consensus of the group. The issue of tethering, or chaining, dogs has drawn significant public input, from Hampton residents and others. More than 2,000 people responded to an Internet poll; about half were Hampton residents. Of those, a majority said they wanted tethering eliminated; another quarter favored a three-hour limit. Gray said the group tried to make a recommendation that addresses all of the concerns people expressed. "This includes eliminating 24/7 tethering and the neglect of dogs that comes with it, which is the main issue," Gray said. They also "wanted to be sensitive to the needs of those people who have a genuine need to tether their dogs and will do so in a responsible manner." The Advisory Committee wants tethering generally to be unlawful within the City of Hampton, with two exceptions: supervised tethering by a responsible person who is physically present and pursuant to applying for and obtaining a permit, which would allow up to three hours of tethering from sunrise to sunset. More time is needed to work out details of a permitting process and refine details of the ordinance, explained Gray. The proposed ordinance, when drafted, would then go to City Council for a vote. The presentation will be part of Wednesday's 1:00PM work session, in Council Chambers on the 8th floor of City Hall, 22 Lincoln Street. It will also be televised live on Hampton City Channel (Cox 47, Verizon 23) and streamed over the Internet at www.hampton.gov/council (select "live meeting video"). There is no public comment period during the work session but the session is open to the public. The public is invited to speak at 6:00PM that night on any topic, prior to the evening meeting. The issue of tethering is not expected to be discussed at the evening meeting, and residents will be given notice when the vote is rescheduled. ### |
Media Contacts
|
