Document text
Wording glitch stalls county animal ordinance By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune A glitch on Wednesday tabled a proposed ordinance allowing Jackson County Animal Control officers to care for neglected animals on private property. Unclear wording in the measure forced county commissioners to void a temporary measure already in place that allows for such care. The commissioners also had to cancel Wednesday's public hearing on the permanent ordinance at the last minute after the problem was discovered by the county's legal staff. More than a dozen residents attended Wednesday's meeting to speak at the public hearing. Opponents of the ordinance say it pits animal rights against property and civil rights. The gathering of protesters and supporters was told that the public hearing was canceled approximately 45 minutes after the commissioners' regular meeting began. "There's a fatal flaw in the ordinance as it's written," Commissioner Sue Kupillas said. "I would rather get it right than take you through this." According to County Administrator Sue Slack, the problem involves wording on the difference between a "sworn animal control officer" and a "sworn officer" of the law. Slack said further definition or expansion of the wording was needed. In October, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners adopted an emergency ordinance that allows animal control officers to enter private property under specific circumstances to provide emergency care to animals if the owner is absent. The emergency measure was adopted until the permanent ordinance was in place. Commissioners had been expected to make the ordinance permanent following Wednesday's scheduled public hearing. Before the emergency measure was passed in October, a sheriff's deputy or peace officer had to accompany an animal control officer on private property if the pet's owner couldn't be found. The ordinance was created to expedite emergency care to neglected animals. Animal control officials said it often takes hours or days before a peace officer is available to assist on such calls. The county is expected to redraft the ordinance and present the issue at a public hearing once again, but a completion date has not been set. "It's never too late to go back to the drawing board," Kupillas said. Animal control director Colleen Macuk said, under provisions in the ordinance, animal control officers must first see the animal themselves and attempt to contact the owner before entering private property. The ordinance would not allow animal control officers to enter structures or carry weapons. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.