Hart County Adopts Animal Control Ordinance

photo-3For the first time in its 160 year history, Hart County has an animal control ordinance.

At their regular meeting Tuesday evening, the Hart County Board of Commissioners heard the third and final reading of the ordinance and held a public hearing before taking a vote.

“I have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion or any comment from the public?” Hart County Commission chair Bill Myers asked.

After a lengthy silence, commissioners voted unanimously to pass the ordinance into law.  The only question came from commissioner Joey Dorsey who asked whether there would be a grace period.  County attorney Walter Gordon said that would be up to the commission.

“As a general principle of law, unless an effective date is specified in the ordinance, then it is effective upon its adoption. Therefore, it is in effect now,” Gordon said.

Gordon, however, recommended giving people an opportunity to voluntarily comply with the tenants of the ordinance.

One of the main requirements for dog owners to have a collar and name tag on their animals at all times as well as a valid rabies tag.  The board did not specify how long owners would have to bring their pets in compliance with the new law.

Members of the Hart County Humane Society have been pushing for a county animal control ordinance for years.

Kitten1After Tuesday evening’s vote, humane society president Donna Madkiff said the new ordinance, which only deals with stray and abandoned dogs, is a start.

“That’s what I said over a month ago,” she said. “I’m very disappointed, however,  that there’s nothing in the new ordinance addressing stray and abandoned cats, but I was told to take what I can get and be happy about it, so I’m trying to be happy about it. Hopefully, cats will be brought in at a later date.”

At a previous meeting, the Board told Madkiff they wanted to get something on the books first that dealt with the stray dog problem.   Myers said at the time, stray and abandoned cats will be addressed in the future.

The next step for the county is to hire an animal control officer or appoint one from the Hart County Sheriff’s office.  That issue, the board said Tuesday, will be worked out as part of the Fiscal 2014 budget process.  The county’s fiscal year begins October 1.