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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: January 2, 2007 Council to debate dog tethering By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland City Council will consider a new ordinance that would make it illegal to tie up a dog at the owner's home or business for more than one hour. The council meets at 6:45 tonight in the Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main St. In January 2006, resident Ambuja Rosen began lobbying the City Council to ban the tethering of animals. The issue is now on the council's agenda after Rosen spent the past year researching other cities' laws and meeting with Ashland officials. The proposed ordinance has numerous provisions. "¢ Dogs must not be tethered at any time with chains or other devices without proper use of a collar or harness, and must not be tied with a chain, leash or rope that is less than 10 feet long. "¢ Dogs can only be tied for one hour at a time, with at least a three hour break between tetherings and a maximum of three hours per day spent tied. They cannot be tied with a heavy tether or in a way in way in which they could become entangled, injured or strangle. "¢ Dogs cannot be tied in an open area where they could be teased. "¢ Dogs that are at least six months of age must be kept in at least 97 square feet of space. "¢ Killing, maiming, torturing or mutilating an animal is unlawful. The provision does not apply to veterinary practices such as tail-docking or declawing, or accepted animal husbandry practices. "¢ Animals must not be abandoned or left in any place without provisions for proper care. "¢ Fresh food must be provided daily and water must be free-flowing or provided in a tip-resistant or secured container. "¢ Animals must have shade to protect them from the sun and a structure with bedding materials to protect them from the cold. In a memo to City Councilors, City Administrator Martha Bennett said city staff members have concerns about their ability to enforce the proposed ordinance. Interim Police Chief Ron Goodpaster recommended the tethering time limit be set at one hour to make enforcement as clear and objective as possible, the memo said. Bennett said city staff recommend that, if adopted, the ordinance not go into effect until May 1 so that information can be provided to the public to minimize violations. Rosen has asked that the requirement for adequate space be applied to cats. She also would like the space requirement to be increased from 97 square feet to 150 square feet. City staff members proposed 97 square feet because that is the size of a readily available pre-constructed dog run, the memo said. Rosen said extensions are available for standard dog runs. The full text of the proposed ordinance is available at www.ashland.or.us/Files/Animal%20Cruelty%20Ordinance.pdf . In other business, newly elected council members will be sworn in. Eric Navickas was elected to the council in the November 2006 election, while Councilors Kate Jackson and David Chapman won reelection. Councilor Alice Hardesty and David Chapman, who were appointed to their seats, also won election to their positions. Mayor John Morrison will give his annual "State of the City" address. Additionally, councilors will consider methods for making payments on AFN's $15.5 million debt. City staff recommend that AFN pay what it can toward the debt after covering its operating expenses, with other departments paying the rest. That would eventually lead to fee increases for other city services and reductions in money available for other departments, according to a memo to the council from Ashland Finance Director Lee Tuneberg. For a full list of agenda items and for more information on each item, visit www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=9863 Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 479-8199 or [email protected] . Current Comments: I gues the 90 mintute walking got left out. I am a very god dog owner but I think this is going to far. Is it a handful of people tethering there dog all the time? Why don't we start with them and if it is abuse cite them why should everybody else suffer. I have a fenced yard luckly its big enough. If there was a reason I had to tie my dog up I might run late and go past my hour. Has it been ok to kill dogs in Ashland? Its already getting kid free you want it dog free too. ann - ashland or - January 2nd, 3:15 PM Hmmm...OK, let's make a switch. Instead of tethering animals how about tethering the council to the relevancy stake, i.e., overseeing the business and financial affairs of the city instead of trying to regulate every possible aspect of citizens' lives? Ron - Ashland - January 2nd, 5:21 PM How come the council in their infinite wisdom is not concerned about the welfare of hamsters and guinea pigs as well? If they are out to end the suffering of helpless creatures, why stop with dogs? I think the city council and the pet police should adopt an ordinance that sets the minimum size for hamster cages as well. AR - Ashland, OR - January 2nd, 7:03 PM I agree. It seems like the "progressive" council is progressively controlling every aspect of our lives. What we need is MORE government control over our lives...not. Is it ok to breathe now? So I have to have a 10 foot leash to tie my dog for 5 minutes and go into the minute market and get water for my dog and a soft drink for me? I wonder if this �Ambuja Rosen� is actually Barbara Rosen, who I met downtown one day, who was really, really a strange person. Linda - Ashland, OR - January 2nd, 8:01 PM Oh, and the fine print: "Additionally, councilors will consider methods for making payments on AFN's $15.5 million debt. City staff recommend that AFN pay what it can toward the debt after covering its operating expenses, with other departments paying the rest. That would eventually lead to fee increases for other city services and reductions in money available for other departments, according to a memo to the council from Ashland Finance Director Lee Tuneberg." Linda - Ashland, OR - January 2nd, 8:04 PM I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The thought that a government agency with so many seemingly more important issues at hand would dedicate time to this is absurd. We are closing schools and libraries, our streets are overrun with vandals and vagrants, park visitors are greeted with a headless statue with an outdated sign, there seems to be a housing crises, businesses do not pay enough for their employees to live here, the AFN debacle, and our leaders are barking up the wrong tree. Fido - Ashland - January 2nd, 10:40 PM The government giveth and taketh away.... For such a supposedly liberal town it sure is getting rather uptight! The more laws it passes the more power it gives government. What's next? As far as I understood we already had laws protecting animals and someone to call if you felt an animal was being abused. This one hour limit is ridiculous! Lisa - Ashland - January 3rd, 12:05 AM Ashland, you have become a socialistic society and don't even know it. For the few who appear to be the most liberal (Eric, Cate, Alice, David, Russ, John), you are the most regulatory and conservative. Clearly, you're not interested in general civic matters such as the lapsing local economy, fledging school system, anti-development ordinances, etc. Fifi - Ashland - January 3rd, 9:55 AM 'Dogs cannot be tied in an open area where they could be teased' I can just hear it"Oh my poor doggy was terrorized by those mean boys...arrest them!!!" You are kidding me!!! Don't have enough to work on city council? Gee I think I'll start a dog walking business...then I could actually afford to live & work in Ashland!!! Or a doggy daycare....a spa for canines. Psych counseling for teased dogs.....dogrun construction and consulting! Man I could make a killing...... Dave Orchid - Ashlandistan - January 3rd, 10:49 AM Personally, my favorite bit in this really stupid ordinance was the proposed enforcement by "volunteers." I'm thinkin' Ambruja would look really good in jack boots and a brown shirt. Don't these folks have something more productive to do with their retirement? enough - ashland, or - January 3rd, 4:15 PM I would think that this is final proof that this city HAS GONE TO THE DOGS. We're faced with the lack of FAMILY WAGE JOBS, yet we fiddle away time while Rome burns. We're faced with high housing costs, yet the Commie-missioners are letting the tail wag the dog. We've got so many IMPORTANT things to occupy ourselves in trying to rectify, yet,we try and emulate the Californians and their multitudinous querks. All it takes is one wooden-beaded birkenstock wearing Berkeley-ite to rock the boat anonyMust - ashland OR - January 4th, 6:24 AM The current dog ordinances are not enforced. Dogs run loose all over town. Don't let your children play in the school yards or they'll bring home a little gift from the bottoms of their shoes. Enacting more laws that won't be enforced is another example of the breakdown of Ashland�s government and their disconnect from reality. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - January 4th, 8:57 AM I support more laws.And this is a real problem: the roaming packs of dogs which plague our streets and vandalize our public areas,the tourists who write to the City saying they will not return because they are so disturbed and harassed by the tethered dogs barking at them.I am afraid to take my kid into the Plaza during the summer because we have to pass by all those traumatized dogs on the way. Dar Commissars need to regulate our lives more. Now let me go get my dog suit to get more coverage. Mike - Ashland - January 4th, 12:07 PM This has to be the most worthless effort I've see since I started to monitor your local paper last July. Is this REALLY the kind of issue your City Council focuses on? Teacher housing; Mt.Ashland; closing libraries; exodus of families w/kids - none of these issues are more important than tethered dogs?!??? I know in Tillamook County, wife-beaters get off with slapped wrists, while heinous crimes against wildlife (deer/salmon) net jail terms. Is this an "Oregon" thing, to focus on the ridiculous? EC - AZ - January 4th, 12:48 PM If the person (Rosen) who brought this before the council in the first place had been more reasonable and just sought some rational time limitation on tethering to augment existing protection laws, it probably would have passed easily and there would be a remedy for some mistreated animals. Instead she concocted this wacky proposal with pen sizes and required walk times and the whole thing became an exercise in absurdity. Not the council's fault. They dumped her proposal, afterall. Susan - Ashland, OR - January 4th, 1:55 PM What a bunch of heartless people. As the law stands now, dogs can be chained 24/7. It's perfectly legal. They deserve better. Ron Elterman - Ashland OR - January 4th, 6:47 PM Ron, (third from top) I believe that the 'lease law' will apply to hamsters and gerbils as well!!! Ha Ha Ha Mike - Ashland, OR - January 4th, 7:15 PM Once again, the process gets railroaded. Once again those that have time on their hands, get to work the system to their own ends. What's worse, is the liberal left majority on this City council. We will NEVER come to equitable solutions concerning living wage jobs and affordable housing with Commie-missioners on the board. I came back to this town after college. I missed it. Things have changed. We're a mecca for Berkeley political activists.The Council plays the fiddle while the city burns. anonyMust - ashland - January 5th, 8:28 AM Anyone have any idea how many dog complaints APD had last year? Hundreds. How many citations? Count them on one hand. Again, passing laws that will not (and are not) enforced is wrong...this ordinance is simply playing politics, pandering to voters, not a solution or serving the needs of the community. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - January 5th, 8:56 PM Mr.Elterman; I'd like to thank you for standing up for Canine Respect and Appreciation "C.R.AP." for short. Have you ever tried to keep a fence-climb'n hole digger in the back yard? If you let him run free:trouble.If you chain him up:trouble. I predict there will be some that are forced to surrender their dogs to the POUND just to be within the law.Then,that previously chained dog will end up unceramoniously thrown in with other rotting dog corpses in a one yard dumpster. Nice. Compassion? OhGiveMiABreak - ashland,Or - January 6th, 12:38 PM Council I think it about time for recalls. You look and act like a bunch of fools. I would like to see all the offenses that forced this issue. Why are you distracting us by this piece of work,What did you mess up on this time. IfI have a dog that is in is my yard not barking what I am I guilty for, Not having a loose dog ,that is not barking that has food and water ,tags ,shots and fixed. Think again about putting him on your little time meter but then you'd be trespassing. GET REAL ann - ashland, or - January 6th, 1:04 PM There seems to be a lot of support about abused tied up dogs in Ashland. Where were all you folks when the debate over tasering a young man who was not being criminally pursued on the phone to his parents and APD broke down his door tasered him and did not get him imediate medical attention and he died,Who looked out for him. I have not heard of one Ashland dog case to justify all this attention. Tasers are being used in Ashland could use some input on cruelty Ann - ashland or - January 8th, 3:43 PM Dear Ann, you make a very good point, I'm STILL wondering ( not really, I think I know what's going on) about that one. Yes, heads need to roll over that issue. But, on the other hand..those fine young persons in Blue were laying their lives on the line for us. Too bad it was a phone line. I'm not the least bit comfortable any where NEAR one of those young skin heads with Glocks; the "culture" at APD is downright scary. I'm sure that APD/CITY/Insurer will pay $$$ for that, and move on for more. anonyMUST - Ashland,OR - January 9th, 9:50 AM I am wondering why killing a dog is included wasn't that always enforced. Has it been not a city policy. Who has been in charge of abuse and killing of an animal. ann - ashland or - January 9th, 6:07 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us