Council shelves changes to animal control ordinance

For the second time in eight months, York County council shot down a set of proposed amendments the county’s animal control ordinance.

Before a packed growd of supporters backing mandatory registration for citizens who own five or more animals and the spaying of female dogs chained outside, council chairman Britt Blackwell broke a split vote.

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Back in November the proposed changes came before council, Monday, councilmen Chappell, Henderson, and Winstead voted it down. Chappell said he hasn’t had much time to read the 16 pages of amendments.

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That notion didn’t sit well with York resident Susan Shannon, who tells WRHI she’s been working with council members for several months to take action on the plan.

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Councilman David Bowman said he was particularly pleased with the proposed changes — in that it allows county staff to focus on their primary jobs.

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Bowman was joined by councilmen Roddey and Williams. Roddey, who chairs the county’s public works committee that’s been working to revise the ordinance, said Monday’s second attempt was eight months in the making.

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Doris Macomson tells WRHI she’s worked with veterinarians to provide free spay and neuter services, and the changes are necessary to cut down on female dogs who are continually impregnated.

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Councilman Eric Winstead said that the current ordinance is fine as written.

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Alisha Schwartz said she was disappointed with council not seeking additional input from the county’s Animal Control office.

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Blackwell, before casting the final vote nixing the plan, said that he liked the end goal of the proposed changes to the ordinance, but the county needs to go about it in a different way.