Protection for Pets & Animals in Columbia County
The Issue
The CSRA Has Issues, & We've Got Them Too!
We have a serious pet overpopulation problem in the CSRA, and Columbia County is not immune to it. There are many local rescue cases which involve abandoned pets, dogs allowed to roam without a leash or collar, backyard breeders with no regard for their animals, "accidental" breeding, and dogs living their lives on chains outside without adequate housing.
These are not new problems, and rescues as well as shelter supporters have been trying for years to get protections in place to prevent them. Let's make 2019 the year that citizens, rescues, and animal shelter supporters come together so we can finally show our elected officials we require change!
How Can We Change This?
First - you can sign this petition! The Commissioners of Columbia County need to know that we will not stand idle and continue to allow zero protection for animals. Richmond County has ordinances protecting animal welfare, isn't it time we do too? The more people that show up to the 2/19 6PM meeting, the better. Make your elected officials aware that this is a problem which is rampant in our county, and will only worsen. The only way we can start to put protections in place, is to make it known that the way pets are currently treated in our county is a problem. It isn't going to go away, and neither will support for these protections.
"Anti-Tether" - What it Actually Means
Many responsible pet owners use tethers! Banning them 100% would be ridiculous. What we are hoping to do is establish regulations for the conditions of tethered dogs, such as a time limit, adequate housing, and the presence of an owner (in case of strangulation or other injury). Some ordinances limit tethering to 13 hours at a time. The point behind anti-tether is to stop people from chaining their dogs outside 24/7 without proper shelter or resources, and instead use tethers for potty breaks or outside exercise time while making sure their basic needs are met.
Outside Dogs
Many outside dog owners are responsible and their pets - happy! There are lots of local happy and healthy outside dogs who roam in a large fenced area and are well cared for. Anti-tether has nothing to do with those dogs and owners.
Spay & Neuter
Requiring average citizens who do not wish to be a breeder to spay and neuter would DRASTICALLY reduce the local stray population. Most responsible pet owners will spay and neuter, but most owners are not responsible. There are so many local programs available to make spay and neuter affordable: rescue vouchers, low cost clinics, city voucher programs, etc. Often these vouchers are not even used. Rescues even go as far as to make spay and neuter appointments fully paid for, and still people will decide not to show up.
What we're doing now just is not working. But this is not a problem in other parts of the country.
In the Northeast, where there are regulations for citizens to spay and neuter, most areas don't have the overpopulation problem. That is why many local rescues transport to those areas. Regulations related to spaying and neutering has that big of a direct impact to the local pet population. This is something that most rescues and shelters agree needs to be put in place everywhere!
Breeders & Exceptions
Many rescuers, shelter employees/volunteers and responsible pet owners in general have dogs and cats from breeders. Not all breeders are bad, and most want to do the right thing in order to be in compliance with local regulations. If counties or cities start requiring licenses for breeders, this information becomes available to local Animal Control much like a city registration tag for a pet.
If the cost of these licenses is significant enough, then reputable breeders who already pay to take their animals to the veterinarian, for genetic testing, and provide the best resources to their animals will not have an issue paying for it. The goal is to stop local backyard breeders who do not provide even basic veterinarian care for their animals and are not held accountable for the animals they breed. Having a breeder license which could be potentially revoked would cause breeders to consider their actions much more than they do now.
Also, there are obviously medical exceptions for foregoing spay or neuter surgery. These would require documentation from a certified veterinarian.
3,498
The Issue
The CSRA Has Issues, & We've Got Them Too!
We have a serious pet overpopulation problem in the CSRA, and Columbia County is not immune to it. There are many local rescue cases which involve abandoned pets, dogs allowed to roam without a leash or collar, backyard breeders with no regard for their animals, "accidental" breeding, and dogs living their lives on chains outside without adequate housing.
These are not new problems, and rescues as well as shelter supporters have been trying for years to get protections in place to prevent them. Let's make 2019 the year that citizens, rescues, and animal shelter supporters come together so we can finally show our elected officials we require change!
How Can We Change This?
First - you can sign this petition! The Commissioners of Columbia County need to know that we will not stand idle and continue to allow zero protection for animals. Richmond County has ordinances protecting animal welfare, isn't it time we do too? The more people that show up to the 2/19 6PM meeting, the better. Make your elected officials aware that this is a problem which is rampant in our county, and will only worsen. The only way we can start to put protections in place, is to make it known that the way pets are currently treated in our county is a problem. It isn't going to go away, and neither will support for these protections.
"Anti-Tether" - What it Actually Means
Many responsible pet owners use tethers! Banning them 100% would be ridiculous. What we are hoping to do is establish regulations for the conditions of tethered dogs, such as a time limit, adequate housing, and the presence of an owner (in case of strangulation or other injury). Some ordinances limit tethering to 13 hours at a time. The point behind anti-tether is to stop people from chaining their dogs outside 24/7 without proper shelter or resources, and instead use tethers for potty breaks or outside exercise time while making sure their basic needs are met.
Outside Dogs
Many outside dog owners are responsible and their pets - happy! There are lots of local happy and healthy outside dogs who roam in a large fenced area and are well cared for. Anti-tether has nothing to do with those dogs and owners.
Spay & Neuter
Requiring average citizens who do not wish to be a breeder to spay and neuter would DRASTICALLY reduce the local stray population. Most responsible pet owners will spay and neuter, but most owners are not responsible. There are so many local programs available to make spay and neuter affordable: rescue vouchers, low cost clinics, city voucher programs, etc. Often these vouchers are not even used. Rescues even go as far as to make spay and neuter appointments fully paid for, and still people will decide not to show up.
What we're doing now just is not working. But this is not a problem in other parts of the country.
In the Northeast, where there are regulations for citizens to spay and neuter, most areas don't have the overpopulation problem. That is why many local rescues transport to those areas. Regulations related to spaying and neutering has that big of a direct impact to the local pet population. This is something that most rescues and shelters agree needs to be put in place everywhere!
Breeders & Exceptions
Many rescuers, shelter employees/volunteers and responsible pet owners in general have dogs and cats from breeders. Not all breeders are bad, and most want to do the right thing in order to be in compliance with local regulations. If counties or cities start requiring licenses for breeders, this information becomes available to local Animal Control much like a city registration tag for a pet.
If the cost of these licenses is significant enough, then reputable breeders who already pay to take their animals to the veterinarian, for genetic testing, and provide the best resources to their animals will not have an issue paying for it. The goal is to stop local backyard breeders who do not provide even basic veterinarian care for their animals and are not held accountable for the animals they breed. Having a breeder license which could be potentially revoked would cause breeders to consider their actions much more than they do now.
Also, there are obviously medical exceptions for foregoing spay or neuter surgery. These would require documentation from a certified veterinarian.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on February 14, 2019