Sterilization/Tethering Law Passed

crazedACD

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#1
Scary stuff. Lee County FL.
http://www.news-press.com/story/new...nty-set-enforce-new-rules-dog-owners/7656735/

Under the new laws, pets can't be fastened, chained, tethered or tied to trees, buildings, fences or posts. If you are going to leave them outside, the minimum area has to be 32 square feet for each animal and it has to be covered.

And let's say your dog gets loose and is picked up by Lee County Domestic Animal Services. Under the ordinance passed Feb. 4, you can't get back that dog until it is sterilized.

Animals registered with a nationally recognized dog or cat club, such as the American Kennel Club, are exempt from sterilization regulations unless they are picked up more than once by Animal Services. Law enforcement dogs, agricultural dogs and hunting dogs are also exempt from sterilization rules. And some animals may be exempt if they can't be sterilized for health reasons.

There won't be a door-to-door hunt for unsterilized animals, said Ria Brown, spokeswoman for Lee County Domestic Animal Services. If the agency is responding to a complaint or for some reason comes to a home with an unsterilized animal, the owner can be cited and will have 30 days to comply. If the owner doesn't comply the dog can be impounded, it will be sterilized by LCDAS and the owner will have to pay.
This is the actual ordinance. Anyone breeding an animal must apply for a certification. Breeders must turn over a list of names and addresses of people that purchased puppies. Breeders must allow ACOs to inspect at any reasonable time. Your dog will be sterilized the FIRST TIME it is picked up by animal services if it is not exempt (registered, or herding/hunting dog). It will be sterilized the second time if it is exempt.
http://archive.news-press.com/assets/pdf/A4218548210.PDF
 

AgilityPup

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#3
Does it make me awful that I don't think those rules are too terrible or hard to follow? The tethering one, maybe. Because I have had dogs who still needed to be tethered inside of fences. But in terms of loose dogs and breeding, that sounds like it will help the population of oops litters and poor breedings.

I know here you have to have a kennel lisence to breed, well, sell, dogs and you are inspected once a year. But I don't think that what they're asking is all that bad. Maybe I am crazy? But I can think of a few dogs that o have seen running around, not fixed, and litters of puppies that have floowed, grew into dogs, and done the same thing.

Eta: but my question is, who is going to be paying the fees for the dogs that are running loose? I could see people intentionally letting their dogs loose to get picked up and get a free spayor neuter out of it.
 

Fran101

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#4
I mean yea, liberties and kind of invasive and all...

but I hate to say this, but I've been to shelters up and down florida and SOMETHING had to be done because the overpopulation problem (and just plain animal neglect problem) is BAD.

They said AKC reg animals or working dogs won't be sterilized (and not for first time offenders), so that leaves people who let their dogs run loose and are breeding them for fun so well....can't say I'm too heartbroken.

Something had to be done and this was obviously an ordinance passed by plain desperation...not a witch hunt.
 

sillysally

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#5
Ridiculous.

There are many places, especially rental units where tethering is the only containment option in you want to have you dog outdoors for anything more than a leash walk. Hell, we have a yard with a 6 ft privacy fence, but sometimes I need or want to be in our unfenced front yard (that cannot be fenced for various reasons) and would like to have Jack out there with me, and tethering is our only option for containment. As someone who lives in a relatively population dense area I hate to see a dog tethered 24/7 as much as the next person, but I'd rather have those dogs contained than not.

As a potential puppy buyer, having my contact info turned over to a governmental body simply because I bought a puppy is unsettling. If I found a great breeder in the area it wouldn't be a deal breaker, but I wouldn't be thrilled.
 
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#6
I don't know what is more disheartening, the fact that an ordinance like this passed, or the fact that nobody seems to really mind?

I'm not really defending people's rights to let their dogs run free because if a homeowner shot them I would feel bad for the dog, not the owners. People need to secure their dogs. BUt I have a feeling all this will lead to is dogs being picked up and nobody claiming them. They'll get sterilized, not adopted, then put to sleep mostly on the tax payers dime. Most places get paid by the number of animals they pick up from the cities they serve. Yea, win for society

I imagine the first dog that is actually worth something to someone that gets picked up and files a lawsuit, it will cost everyone again. probably more than caring for all the unwanted dogs.

Can't wait to see the first case of a well respected breeder having all their dogs let loose by a disgruntled employee or a PETA member just so AC can pick them and sterilize them all and put them out of business.

And the lists, all the more reason for gov't lists. Not only do you have to register yourself and your dogs, but now all puppy buyers too, because everyone has to be responsible for everyone else so somebody can be held liable in the event anything occurs.

and tethering? I never tie my dogs out, I hate it, but you know what? dogs have been kept like that forever all over the world. and many are completely normal, sane, well mannered dogs with loving owners. It is a perfectly legitimate way to let your dog outside or contain them when away from home. Why is it everyone else's fault that a few idiots abuse that method of containment? and if they are, there are water laws, food laws, tethering time laws, nusiance laws, many laws to hold someone accountable and still allow someone that can't afford a fence to let their dog out on a chain.
 

Shai

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#7
They said AKC reg animals or working dogs won't be sterilized (and not for first time offenders), so that leaves people who let their dogs run loose and are breeding them for fun so well....can't say I'm too heartbroken.
Not even counting those who simply want to keep their animals intact and manage them, what about the people with unregistered purebreds, purpose bred mixes, non-AKC recognized breeds (ES, Koolie, Kelpie, etc...)
 

Shai

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#9
Well, if your dog is running free long enough for somebody to pick them up, they're not really being managed, are they?
Because God forbid a plumber leaves your gate open or some such. Burn the witches!
 
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#10
Because God forbid a plumber leaves your gate open or some such. Burn the witches!
or a pissed off neighbor, or ex employee, or animal rights, or an incompetent dog walker, babysitter, friend of babysitter, thief, would be thief, Cousin Eddie visiting for Christmas, etc.
 
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#11
Laws trying to force people to have surgeries done on their pets are disgusting. Spaying/neutering is a major surgery that can cause problems and it is a personal decision. People will be less likely to license their dogs in the future too.
 

Red.Apricot

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#12
I can see why the law passed, even though I don't like it.

Our neighbor's teens were going around earlier in the year opening all the gates and letting dogs out. They let Elsie and Zobby out while my boyfriend was in the yard with them; Elsie stayed on the property, but Zobby bolted. And this was able to happen even though we're paranoid and usually keep the gate padlocked; Donny had it unlocked while doing yard-work to bring bags of soil into the back. Scary--so it's a real thing that can happen. And those weren't even people with a real agenda; just kids playing a prank.
 
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#13
Not even counting those who simply want to keep their animals intact and manage them, what about the people with unregistered purebreds, purpose bred mixes, non-AKC recognized breeds (ES, Koolie, Kelpie, etc...)
I was going to say that Canine Partners probably counts, except that... do dogs have to be altered to be registered with Canine Partners in the first place? I'm too lazy to look it up but I think they do, so there goes that.

I'm not a fan of this. At all. I can understand why they did it, and I guess at least it's a "we won't enforce it if your dog isn't caught roaming" but I still don't like it.
 

Julee

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#14
I was going to say that Canine Partners probably counts, except that... do dogs have to be altered to be registered with Canine Partners in the first place? I'm too lazy to look it up but I think they do, so there goes that.

I'm not a fan of this. At all. I can understand why they did it, and I guess at least it's a "we won't enforce it if your dog isn't caught roaming" but I still don't like it.
Yeah, they do.
 

Shai

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#15
Yep, sterilization is reqd for PAL or Canine Partners registration.
 

Julee

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#16
ILP too (is that called PAL now? Too many letters!).

On one hand, I do think it has the potential to help. On the other... it's scary that they're allowed to be this invasive. :\
 

DJEtzel

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#17
It is very scary, but I also think it will help more than hurt.

It's not hard to contain your animals. If I lived a lifestyle where it could be possible for someone else to let my dog roam, I would not want them intact. That is completely irresponsible, IMO. Do accidents happen? Sure. But no regular accident is going to happen when I am the only one caring for my dogs, and making sure they are secured inside my house before leaving for the day. I keep my fence locked, dogs crated behind doors, etc. if maintenance people will be around.

If I had a dog that darted doors and bolted, well I'd be managing the hell out of that dog with tethers, crates, and numerous doors while working on stopping that behavior ASAP.

I would wonder if it were brought up if they would make special considerations for non-AKC registrable dog breeds, that were registered under a different club and had proof, were competing, etc.
 

*blackrose

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#18
I can think of a lot of issues and problems with the sterilization ordinance...but I can see how it is needed. So many idiot people let their intact animals run loose. Yes, accidents happen...but I think it would be for the best. Just one more consequence of a loose animal...could get poisened, hbc, shot at, or steralized. So, as long as there are those loopholes for dogs that need their reproductive organs (health/breeding), I'm more...meg about it.

The *tethering* however. No. Just no. That was the only way I was able to allow my dogs any yard time at all until...just now, at 24 years old.
 

StillandSilent

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#19
I find it interesting that certain dogs will be exempt. A loose purebred will create just as many problems as a loose mutt.

I'm also disturbed by them saying its not a hunt for intact animals, but that if ac is there for another reasin, you can be cited and your animal forcibly sterilized.

Ac was called to my house during the last week of Argons life, by someone who didn't think he was being cared for. T was completely unfounded , but I would have been furious if they had looked around and made a serious medical decision for another animal in the house.
 

crazedACD

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#20
Remember it is NOT just loose dogs... other articles word it so I take it to believe anyone can call on you and report you for having an intact or tethered animal. The 'complaint' part, is you can complain about an intact animal.

Also, if you want to do anything with your dog, you need to get a rabies vax. The rabies tag/county license will be processed by the county. What about that? They will know the dogs' sterilization status. Are they going to send you a fine/notice if you vaccinate for rabies, and then they never receive the sterilization certificate? The ordinance only states that no exempt dog may remain intact. Period. And you have a spokesperson 'promising' there won't be a door-to-door witch hunt, but...what about when animal services changes hands. Or needs to do 'more'. There are NO provisions in the ordinance about when/where they may procure animals that haven't been sterilized (or that are tied).

"Herding dogs" are defined as someone with a bonafide commercial ag business. One that seeks to make a profit. So you guys that want a little hobby farm with a few sheep or cattle, your dogs can't be intact unless registered. Does registration even mean like the ABCA or ASCA or smaller registries? What about rare breeds with no national registry? We have to alter our Azawakhs or Mudis or xyz? Hunting dogs, you must have a hunting license, so now you hog or coyote hunters have to get licenses for some other animal (no licenses needed for pest animals).

And hey, we're going to lower kill rates by IMPOUNDING MORE PEOPLE'S ANIMALS if they don't comply. Also, you are not allowed to tie your dog so if he digs under the fence you have no recourse. Personally I'm thankful my old neighbor could tie his pit bull in the yard because he would pry the panels off the fence and get into my yard (and mauled a foster puppy I had).

I did live in Florida, Hillsborough County. And I was more active with rescue stuff because there is more of a problem, indeed. I'm also convinced that spay/neuter has done it's part. The dogs that are reproducing indiscriminately have owners that don't care. They will not fix them, they are not going to get them out of animal control. The dogs that end up in the system have owners that don't care. Period. They can't afford medical treatment. The dog is a pain in the ass. They are moving and can't be bothered. Had a baby and don't need a dog anymore. Or something happened to the owner (imprisoned, died, got sick, lost their home).

Sorry I'm getting worked up by this, but I so strongly disagree. This is just going to hurt people that already responsible. And hopefully it all won't be as extreme as I described, BUT the way the ordinance is written, it certainly can be!!!


and if they are, there are water laws, food laws, tethering time laws, nusiance laws, many laws to hold someone accountable and still allow someone that can't afford a fence to let their dog out on a chain.
Rented a house with an unfinished fence. Was promised fence would be finished (just two panels needed to be installed). Wouldn't allow me to do it myself. Landlord never installed the panels, and yes I tied my dogs out for potty breaks.. getting ready for work in the morning with three dogs, tie outs helped.
 

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