Council Work Session takes another look at Animal Control Ordinances and what's Best for Pets

The Crossville city council once again looked at some possible changes in rules on tethering dogs inside the city limits but a consensus remains elusive.

The city had formed a task force on animal improvements with several local animal welfare groups and had looked at an ordinance that would disallow tethering of dogs between 7 PM and 7 AM and during the day for no longer than 8 hours at a time but failed to get enough votes to pass it. Instead, during the March council meeting, the council decided to enforce the state laws that prohibit injuring an animal with tethering.

Dogs at the animal shelter (file photo)

The additional work session on the topic was requested by council member Pamala Harris to give the council a chance to discuss animal control issues like tethering a bit more and general humane treatment of pets. Said Harris, “We can set a good example for the community by improving our ordinances without being too restrictive.”

In addition to the current state law, a new regulation has been added that will not allow tethering dogs when the temperature is under 32 or over 90 degrees.

The Crossville Police Department's animal control officer Wiley Potter said there were concerns about tethering and he said the biggest problem that he saw was when the animal got tangled up on a tether and couldn't reach their food, water or shelter. Potter, who said he had not been involved in the initial task force meetings, pointed out that dogs have lived outside for 10,000 years and that some people did not want an inside dog.

In addition, Potter pointed out that they have been asking people to keep their dogs up in compliance with the leash law adding, “Tethering is how they do it. What are we going to tell them now?”

Another problem Potter said he sees is that that chain or wire can be too big or too small for the animal being tied. “Use common sense on tethering.” In other words, Potter explained, “Don't put a chihuahua on a heavy chain or a pit bull on a light wire.”

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Potter explained that the state law requires that all dogs have food, water, and shelter. “I try to educate people and work with people,” Potter explained, “and if they don't do what I ask them to do, I cite them to court. You try to work with people, but sometimes they just don't understand.” Potter added that he looks at his job as education but he writes citations when he has to.

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The local animal welfare organizations including A Time for Paws and FOCCAS have programs that can help low-income citizens with getting a kennel to keep animals off of a tether. People can call the organizations and request assistance or referrals are made through animal control.

Council member Harris said, “There are strong opinions on either side of this issue. We have to take baby steps.” She felt the first baby step could be to address how an animal is tethered and make the ordinance something that can be enforced.

At least one citizen who attended the meeting spoke out complaining about the city telling her how to care for her animal.

While further discussion on a number of issues took place, additional study of the current situation and some local statistics were requested by the council.

Ms. Harris summed up her feelings saying, “I want to see what is good for our community."

City of Crossville and Local Animal Welfare Groups Working Together.

Editor's note: The following information was provided by Crossville City Manager Greg Wood as part of efforts in partnership with animal welfare groups in the community and start a dialog in the community.  Your comments are welcome and will be shared with city officials. 

Don’t Tie Me Down

At the request of local animal rescues, the City of Crossville requested its staff form a task force to examine ways of legislating more cost-effective and humane care and control of dogs and community cats within the City. On the table for discussion were the tethering of dogs, trap, neuter, release/return (TNR) programs for community cats, and euthanasia of animals. The task force met and felt the first step was to begin an education process to help pet owners and the community understand the benefits of implementing the suggested changes.

One major item of discussion was tethering dogs. Research has shown dogs that are continuously tethered are much more likely to bite. Closely associated with that is a dog’s access to its food and water, especially, as often happens, the tether becomes wrapped around an object preventing the dog from reaching food or water and also shelter. The other issue also often associated with tethering is shelter from the weather or more properly lack of shelter because it is either not supplied or cannot be reached because of the entanglement issues associated with tethering.

The group realizes that sometimes tethering is the only option for a dog owner and some provision needs to be made for temporary measures. However, area rescues advocate alternatives such as kennels that will not require a large amount of property and allow a dog unencumbered access to food, water, and shelter. The result being a safer, happier, and healthier environment for the pet, the owners, and the neighborhood.

Dogs at the Cumberland County Animal Shelter

Another area that needs to be addressed are community cats, not to be confused with friendly strays. A common misconception is that neighborhoods would be better if these cats were completely eliminated. This contradicts evidence provided by the rescue groups which shows, these cats keep populations of unwanted wildlife such as rats and mice in check. They also protect their territory, so eliminating them just leaves a vacuum which results in new cats coming into a neighborhood. Many feel the better alternative is trap, neuter, release/return (TNR). This keeps the population where it needs to be (by stopping the multiplication issue) and allows the cats to be a beneficial part of an ecosystem.

There are several area animal welfare organizations that are working towards these goals including A Time for Paws (www.atime4paws.org/), Wags and Whiskers (http://www.wawpr.org/), and FOCCAS (https://foccas-tn.org/). Currently, FOCCAS is developing a program called FOCCAS On Breaking the Chains. This program seeks to help local families get as many dogs off tethers as possible. FOCCAS will find low cost, quality fencing materials, to be purchased by the pet owner, and their volunteers will provide installation and labor free of charge. Eventually, they hope to find funding to cover the expenses of the material for low-income families.

Crossville Council hears from animal advocacy group about need for ordinance updates

Meeting in work session, the Crossville city council talked about forming a task force to consider updates to animal control ordinances as suggested by local animal organization Time 4 Paws.

In addition, council discussed a proposal from the fire department on the purchase of two new frontline fire apparatus that could save the taxpayers $162,000.

Also, the council will consider a memorandum of understanding with a company that helps cities find ways to reduce energy costs and use the savings to pay for other types of improvements.

Karen McMeekin with A Time 4 Paws addressed the council about updates to the city's animal control ordinances. She said that the goal was to reduce the kill rate of animals in the community and to reduce animal abuse cases and see that abusers are penalized.

Karen McMeekin, founder of A Time 4 Paws

shared a photo of a dog on a chain with council

members during the October work session.

McMeekin explained that the community could be recognized as a no-kill community if the number of animals killed was 10 percent or less. She said that it is impossible to drop that number to 0 percent as some animals cannot be saved due to injury or illness.

According to McMeekin, when she first moved to Crossville she told the council the live release rate (animals that went to their owners home of to rescues) was only 10 to 15 percent. She said now the rate was between 85 and 85 percent.

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The purpose of A Time 4 Paws is to provide education and programs to the community and to assist the animal shelter in reducing the number of animals being killed. The group has not received any city funding in the 12 years it has operated and is not currently seeking any.

The city's current ordinances are very outdated and need language updated and improved McMeekin told the council. She added that they would not be attractive to new residents moving here.

The ordinances the group is proposing the council look at include limiting the amount of time an animal can be kept on a chain or wire run (wire between 2 trees with a traveling chain to give a dog a little more run then chained to a tree) as it can make an animal more dangerous. The group an assist with helping families with dog houses, fence building and other ways they can improve the dog's living condition.

Additional ordinances would cover a community cat program where feral cat communities are cared for, animals are marked, vaccinated and fixed and then don't have to be caught or otherwise become a burden on animal control. In addition an ordinance on rescue organizations and what they can do to assist with the animal problem.

Council discussed the formation of a task force that would include members of A Time 4 Paws, other animal groups and the city manager to review the current ordinances one at a time and bring back recommendations to the council at a future time.