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.

Council agrees to donate land for new animal shelter if FOCCAS raised additional funds

The Crossville city council approved a motion that could provide a new location for the Cumberland County animal shelter if the group known as FOCCAS can raise additional funds toward the shelter and a proposed new adoption center.

Focus on Cumberland County Animal Shelter has been working for some time on improvements to the animal shelter that is located on property that once served the community as landfill. The building is in poor shape according to the group and many of the animals spend at least part of their time outside even in the winter.

Dr. Mark Hendrixson with FOCCAS

Dr. Mark Hendrixson, spokesman for FOCCAS gave a presentation to the council during their January work session about the plans and their request for a more central location for the animal shelter facility and adoption center. Hendrixson said that the group had looked at property on the back side of the city's Centennial Park near the current dog park. Currently the group has some $200,000 in commitments and feels a better location would allow them to raise much more toward the project.

Mayor pro-tem J. H. Graham moved that FOCCAS be given six months to raise an additional $200,000 in donations including pledges and in-kind materials and if they raise the total $400,000 matched with funds budgeted by the city and county ($90,000 each) then an area of city property with an appropriate amount of acreage will be dedicated to the Crossville/Cumberland County animal shelter.

Mayor James Mayberry said he had concerns over the action that concerns the county operated animal shelter and that none of the plan has been discussed with the county nor does it meet requirements they had previously mentioned. “I think this is a little premature and there needs to be a little more discussion on a location.

The motion was approved with four aye votes and Mayor Mayberry opposed. 

City Council discusses FOCCAS proposal

Prior to the discussion, the matter was mentioned during the time of public comment by Margie Buxbaum. Buxbaum is a supporter of the dog park and said she very much in favor of a new animal shelter. She said her concern was the location near the dog park and the possibility that people would come and just dump their dogs in the dog park. Buxbaum agreed that the current location of the animal shelter was completely inappropriate for an adoption center.      

Margie Buxbaum public comments

Crossville council meetings back on Tuesday evening, discussion on city manager hiring and land for animal shelter

The Crossville city council returns to holding their regular meetings on Tuesday evening January 10, 2017 and will consider the selection of a new city manager, donating land for a possible new animal shelter, and the possibility of a city special census among other items on the agenda.

The council's schedule for the evening starts with the audit committee meeting at 5:15 PM, moves to the Beer Board at 5:45 PM and regular council meeting starts at 6:00 PM. Also for the first time, public comment from the public has been moved to near the start of the agenda.

Several of the agenda items were discussed at last weeks work session and the council was to have a list of their initial top picks from the candidates for city manager for tabulation by the meeting. Three additional candidates submitted resumes late last week. The council is accepting resumes through January 16 but is hoping to get a jump on possible interviews as soon as possible.

At the work session, councilman Scot Shanks said, I really feel like we need to move forward with interviewing for the city manager position.” Mayor James Mayberry agreed saying they could start interviewing finalists before the deadline by having each council member come up with a list of names and see how that narrows down the list.

Councilman Scot Shanks

Initial interviews may be done through the internet and city clerk Sally Oglesby said the city staff was working on setting that up for the council's use. There was some discussion of what kind of questions and how that would be handled. The main thing councilman Shanks felt was that the process needed to be started. He said he had a list of 6 or 7 names he'd picked out and other council members said they also had chosen names from the list.

Council was given a deadline of Monday to send in their lists and a breakdown would be available at the meeting.

During the work session, council also heard from Dr. Mark Hendrixson on behalf of the local group that wants to see a better facility for the city/county animal shelter. The group FOCCAS (Focus on Cumberland County Animal Shelter) is seeking to raise some $500,000 for a new adoption center that will be built next to the animal shelter but they are seeking a better location for the shelter then its current location.

Dr. Mark Hendrixson, standing, talks to the council about FOCCAS plans

for improvements of the city/county animal shelter during a work session.

According to Hendrixson, the county is planning to redo the animal shelter and FOCCAS is attempting to raise additional funds for the adoption center. Hendrixson described what a poor site for the shelter the current location is and is asking that the city donate 3 to 5 acres behind the current city dog park that a new shelter could be built on with the adoption center adjacent to it. The city and county have budgeted $180,000 together for building program of shelter in the current fiscal year.

FOCCAS had asked the county to delay the start of the project as they work to raise the additional funds but the county wants to get the project underway. The project would be in the location of the current shelter that FOCCAS describes as not community friendly while the location near Centennial Park would be more easily accessible and easier to get donations for. Council will consider the group's request at the meeting.

Based on discussion at the work session, it appears likely the council will put off a special census until next year. There are several time lines that must be met for a special census including a January first deadline to notify the state and a March deadline to have the census complete so it can be reviewed for certification. Dave Warner, who managed the last special census recommended that the city wait until 2018 to do the census.

Warner has said he does not want to do the census again and it may be difficult to find a firm to take over that work. The council had approved the first reading of a budget amendment for $30,000 to fund the census at the December meeting. It is unclear what action the council will take at the meeting.

Council will also consider providing sewer service to a property on Deep Draw Road that is out side the city limits and removing lumber on the city's Maryetta Road property being considered for an industrial project.