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/o/P <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Board of County Commissioners <br />FROM: William K. DeBraal, Deputy County Attorney <br />DATE: June 11, 2019 <br />SUBJECT: Public Hearing: Tethering Ordinance Amendment <br />In September 2018, the Board of County Commissioners heard a presentation from Betsy Begens <br />concerning proper and improper tethering practices for dogs. A draft ordinance was presented to <br />the Board and the Board discussed various aspects of tethering dogs and the existing County code <br />on the subject. Staff was directed to meet with Ms. Begens and a meeting was held with Ms. Begens, <br />Tad Stone, Jason Ogilvie and Ilka Daniels from the Humane Society. The group discussed proposed <br />changes to the current ordinance. On April 9, 2019, staff presented the attached proposed ordinance <br />amendment to the Board for consideration and discussion. By a vote of 5-0, the Board directed staff <br />to advertise and schedule a public hearing on the tethering amendment. The advertisement <br />appeared in the Press Journal on June 7, 2019. The Board is to now conduct a public hearing on <br />the tethering ordinance and take testimony from interested parties. The proposed ordinance <br />amendment provides for the following: <br />• Provides a definition for tethering <br />• Prohibits tethering for more than one hour between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm when the <br />outdoor temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. <br />• Prohibits tethering during any severe weather or natural disaster. <br />• Prohibits tethering if the animal is less than 6 months of age. <br />Staff researched whether any of the municipalities in the County have ordinances concerning <br />tethering. Sebastian, Vero Beach and Fellsmere have no tethering ordinances and this ordinance <br />would not apply unless adopted by one of the municipalities. <br />To date in 2019, no tethering violations of the existing ordinance have been issued. In 2018, two <br />violations were issued with eight violations issued in 2017. Unless there would be an egregious <br />violation of the tethering ordinance, Animal Control would issue warnings and provide education <br />about the new tethering requirements. <br />130 <br />