On Monday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m., the Dare County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive comment on proposed changes to Dare County Ordinance Chapter 9, General Care and Tethering of Dogs.

The hearing will be held in the Board of Commissioners meeting room, 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr., Manteo.

The formal notice states “As a result of this hearing a change may be made to the current ordinance to impose more stringent penalties for violations.”

Recommended language is as follows:

“(1) First Offense: If, after conducting an investigation, Animal Control determines there has been a violation, Animal Control shall explain Dare County Ordinance Section 91.033 General Care and Tethering of Dogs to dog owner in violation of said ordinance. Animal Control will issue a warning and the dog must be untethered immediately. Failure to comply with the order to immediately untether will constitute a second offense as set for in Paragraph D(2) of this section and the dog will be taken into the custody of Animal Control consistent therewith.

“(2) Second Offense: Animal Control will take possession of the animal for a period of 14 days and the owner in violation of the ordinance may be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor and a fine will be imposed up to $500.00. During the 14 day period the animal will be housed at the Dare County Animal Shelter at the owner’s expense and accommodation must be made to secure the pet without the need to tether and demonstrate to Animal Control that such accommodations have been made. In the event that the animal has not been spayed or neutered, the fine may be waived in lieu of the owner having the pet spayed or neutered by a veterinarian before the end of the 14 day period. If, after 14 days, the owner is able to demonstrate to Animal Control that accommodations have been put in place to secure the dog in an appropriate manner without the need to tether, the dog will be returned to the owner. If said accommodations have not been made, the dog will become the property of Dare County Animal Control.”

Further information can be obtained by calling Gary Gross at 252-475-5700.

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