May 14, 2018 UPDATE: NASSAU COUNTY ANIMAL ORDINANCE On April 18, 2018 County Commissioners voted to hear public comments regarding the revised animal ordinance at the Commissioners meeting on June 11, 2018 at the James Page Government Center in Yulee, FL at 6:00 PM. The good news is that the revised ordinance includes language that allows dog tethering only if a responsible party is outdoors with the dog and it is in visible range, "attended-tethering-only." Oddly, this will not apply to dogs living on farms. The bad news is that the proposed ordinance does not establish a minimal size for an outdoor kennel. In fact, it states that the dog need only have enough space so the dog can sit, stand, lie down and make other normal body movements. The revision does not require that dogs be restrained or contained when transported in an open truck. Last, the language defining abandonment is vague and does not require pet owners to move their pets out of harms way when a mandatory evacuation order has been issued. Without a doubt, there will be people at the meeting who will speak in favor of 24/7 unattended dog tethering. We need animal welfare advocates to come to the meeting and ask commissioners to approve county-wide, attended-tethering-only and make other adjustments to protect the dogs and the people of Nassau County. ATTEND THE MEETING TO SUPPORT ANIMAL WELFARE For more information and to read the proposed ordinance: https://conta.cc/2rXCPKW