NewsSun.com

Mobile

Today's Date

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Manage Web Registration

Weather

Weather Forecast

Navigation

Classifieds Buttons

Secondary Navigation

Banner Ad

Print Story Email Story Discuss Story (5)

News-Sun file photo County Animal Control Director Darryl Scott will address the county commission Tuesday night with a list of eight recommendations for improving his department that were made by a committee.

published: Sunday, November 25, 2012

Commission to wrangle animal issues

By BARRY FOSTER

News-Sun correspondent

SEBRING -- It will be another foray into animal control Tuesday as Highlands County commissioners meet for their November night session.

Commissioners first will look at a new animal control ordinance, which will require owners of dogs, cats and ferrets to have their animals vaccinated for rabies and for the pets to either display tags or be implanted with a chip indicating they have had their shots.

However, there is a proviso that pets might not be mandated to get the inoculation should the veterinarian feel that it could endanger the life of the animal.

As part of the new measure, people would be prohibited from feeding feral animals on public property and those feeding such animals on private property first would be required to obtain permission from the property owner.

There has been some controversy about the practice of feeding stray animals, with the argument being made that those who put out food encourage the growth to the stray cat and dog population.

In addition to proper treatment of pets, the new ordinance includes a "pooper scooper" provision, saying that when walking pets, droppings must be picked up and disposed of by owners unless they have approval from landowners to leave them. County officials say no such approval will be issued for public land.

Animal control officers will enjoy many of the same rights as other law enforcement personnel with the new ordinance prohibiting people from interfering with them. Citations also may be issued for those giving false information to animal control workers or trying to physically wrest their pets away from officers.

In a related agenda item, Highlands County Animal Control Director Darryl Scott will formally present commissioners with a list of eight recommendations made by a committee.

The group was appointed after a number of animal activists came before the commission with concerns about the county's animal control operation.

Some of the items on that list already will have been taken care of before the recommendations are presented, such as the issuance of tags and hold times for animals before they are put up for adoption or otherwise dispersed or disposed of.

Other recommendations include allowing volunteers to assist in the animal control department as well as the hiring of two caretakers.

The committee also has suggested looking into the use of PetPoint computer software and having pictures of the pets released on the Internet two days prior to the end of their hold time to facilitate the adoption process.

In other action, commissioners will receive an annexation report from the City of Avon Park.

They are looking to absorb the Lacey Hills, Tulane Park and Beachfront neighborhood on the city's south side.

vacines (by: L - 11/26/2012)

BTW dogs and cats do not need yearly vaccinces. by law, the only vaccine they need is Rabies, which last 7 years, yearly vaccines are not needed..Wake up people..you are paying $30-40 dollars per shot that is not needed..Step it up Highlands County...do your homework and take charge for all the pets in the county..if you inforce this bogus law..you will be killing cat and dogs..!!

vacines and microchips (by: Linda - 11/26/2012)

How about allowing a 3 year Rabies shot..a one year and 3 year are the same shot...and would be much safer that having the pet given the shot every year. BTW a Rabies shot is good for 7 years......also do not agree with the chip as most dogs already have a chip with info of owner on it etc and another chip in thier body is NOT safe.........Highland County needs to get with the program ....and think what is safe for all the animals that live in this county.!!

Feeding Stray & Feral Cats (by: Lui Matthews - 11/26/2012)

This is America. Surely, if a person has the right to burn the American flag, they also have the right to feed starving cats. If a property owner does not want cats to be fed on their property, they can post a notice and it can be enforced. Isn't it presumptous to assume otherwise? The Humane Society of America and the ASPCA recommend a group or person take responsibility for a colony of cats, feeding them, catching them, neutering them and releasing them. This is being done in many communities. Surely this is more humane and dare I say Christian than starving the cats to death? Possibly then some of the charaties giving food to humans should be made to stop as the charaties are not responsible for the wellbeing, reproduction, illnesses, etc. of the poor.

Feeding Stray Cats (by: Lui Matthews - 11/25/2012)

This is America. If a person is allowed to burn the American flag, they should be allowed to feed a stray cat. Highlands County is an impoverished county. The funds used for this would be much better spent. If a property owner does want people feeding stray cats on their property, let them put up a sign and then let it be enforced. Have some humanity Highlands County.

bannign the feeding of feral cats (by: Judy Spiegel - 11/25/2012)

Adpoting a ban on feeding feral cats will NOT create more feral cats. Cats breed even if they are sick & starved. I would very much like to give some insight to the one concerning the feeding ban on feral cats. This is an important issue that could create great harm to animals that are already put in a bad situation by uncaring people.
.
The ordinance will read that a person will need to have written permission before feeding a feral cat on any property other than your own. It seems like a cut and dry issue, but it is not. If passed it will mean:

If you don't own your house, you will need to have written permission to feed a stray in your yard.
People will need to get permission from City Council or County Commissioner to feed any stray on city or county property

Problems with this:
Most feral cats live in empty fields, it is difficult to find and contact property owners
Who will monitor?
If A/C sees you feeding a cat, you will have to have the written permission on you at all times?
A/C will be able to have knowledge of property owners?
A/C will have to keep records of which property has given permission to feed?
People have been feeding some of these colonies for more than 15 years.
A/C does not have the time or manpower to trap all the cats in a colony. What they have done in the past is, come out,
trap a few, then leave. Meanwhile, if people are unable to feed, the remaining cats will breed, become starved, and wander out of the
woods in search of food. It will not make the colony go away, it will only make for sick, half starved, hurt, (from fighting over scraps), cats.
This is an inhumane thing to do. And the colonly will continue to breed and grow.

There has been a Feral Cat Committee of over 15 people formed, that are working diligently to trap, spay and release in areas where the colonies are
being cared for. Any animal that is sick, is euthanized. They are all given a rabies shot. Young kittens are not returned to the colonies.
So far they have spayed over 500 feral cats, that has prevented the birth of 10's of thousands of kittens. People are call the committee daily and asking for help. So far, everyone has welcomed them.
Businesses are happy to have the cats neutered to prevent breeding, not one place has asked them to leave.

As it stands now:
Any property owner can have any unwanted person removed from their property at any time,
there is no need for a new ordinance for a law that is already in place.

Things to consider:
This all started because A/C has said that 2 places in the county have complained about people feeding feral cats:
1.) Lakeshore Mall Car Wash Manager - I have spoken with him myself and he has no problem with feeding the cats.
He has a problem with people dumping large amounts of food on ground (this is done by people that stop by intermittently).
A sign asking people not to dump food has been placed at the site, and it is no longer a problem. He is happy that the cats are being trapped and neutered.

2). Winn Dixie store: I spoke with the regional manager of Winn Dixie, Mr. Cowie, he has no problem with feeding the cats, he said most of his stores have
stray cats living around them. He is thrilled that someone is trapping and spaying them. He does not want negative publicity for Winn Dixie
telling people he won't allow people to care for the abandoned cats.
Both of these colonies have been cared for by the same people for the past 15 years. It would be unfair and cruel to tell these people
to walk away from these cats that depend on them. These people are responsible, don't leave trash, pick up other people's trash, and care
very much for these poor unfortunate cats that someone has heartlessly dumped.

I can not think of one good reason to pass this ordinance. The people caring for these cats are reasonable and responsible. They are NOT out
to make enemy's of property owners. If someone does not want the cats on their property, they will work on removing them. They are there to
help with the problem, not be part of it.
Thank you for taking time to read my plea for help for the helpless animals that have been placed in a bad situation.
Although the committee I served on, The Animal Control Advisory Committee, I am not in agreement with many of the decisions made.
With this said, I truly hope you will consider voting no on this ordinance that will serve no good purpose. Feel free to call me if you have any questions about this issue or any other dealing with Animal Control Issues. I would very much like to meet with you in person at some point in the near future to discuss animal issues in Highlands County.
.