The Augusta-Richmond County Commission is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a proposed ordinance that would require spay/neuter for all impounded dogs and cats, regardless of the circumstances, and would enact additional problematic amendments to the city/ county animal ordinance.
Concerned animal owners are urged to immediately contact commission members and respectfully ask them to VOTE NO on the proposed animal ordinance. Please see contact information, below.
Among numerous problematic provisions, the proposed ordinance would:
- Require a dog or cat that is impounded for any reason to be sterilized. This provision would apply regardless of whether the animal accidentally escaped, was let loose by a utility worker, was stolen and released, was transferred from another shelter, or was unjustifiably impounded. An owned dog that accidentally escapes its enclosure or pulls away while being walked on a leash should not be subjected to unnecessary surgery prior to being returned to a responsible owner.
- Require owners to ensure that their animals are enclosed inside a house, building, fence, pen or enclosure that is locked when the animal is unattended; keep the animal on a leash; or keep it under voice control and in the immediate proximity of the owner. Under these requirements, an unrestrained animal that never leaves its owner’s property could be subject to impoundment and sterilization.
- Require owners who choose to keep their dogs or cats intact to purchase an annual unaltered animal permit for each pet. The proposed ordinance states that the unaltered fee would be $50.00/year with a 1-year rabies vaccination and $75.00/year with a 3-year vaccination. The ordinance also references rabies tags, registration license tags, unaltered dog tags, and owner’s ID tags and appears to require that unaltered dogs must have four tags affixed to their collars.
- Restrict the use of humane tethering. This discriminates against dog owners who are disabled, blind, and otherwise unable to comply with the requirements. Further, it limits the ability to provide exercise and safe outdoor confinement to dogs owned by persons who reside where fencing is prohibited or is restricted to a design that does not safely confine the dog.
What you can do:
- Contact commission members to state your concerns and ask them to vote “NO” on the ordinance.
- Attend the commission meeting to state your concerns. Call the Clerk of Commission's office at (706) 821-1820 for information about the meeting.
August-Richmond County Commission Meeting
Tuesday, February 2, 2016, 2:00 p.m.
Commission Chamber (second floor)
Municipal Building
530 Greene Street
Augusta, GA 30901
Contact information:
District 1 – William Fennoy
Ph: (706) 726-4014 (cell)
fennoy@augustaga.gov
District 2 – Dennis Williams
Ph: (706) 564-2969
denniswilliams@augustaga.gov
District 3 – Mary Davis
Ph: (706) 910-2574 (cell)
mfdavis@augustaga.gov
District 4 – Sammy Sias
Ph: (706) 564-9436
ssias@augustaga.gov
District 5 – Bill Lockett
Ph: (706) 798-7175 (home)
Ph: (706) 825-1847 (cell)
wlockett@augustaga.gov
District 6 – Ben Hasan
Ph: (706) 564-9370
bhasan@augustaga.gov
District 7 – Sean Frantom
Ph: (706) 564-1663
sfrantom@augustaga.gov
District 8 – Wayne Guilfoyle
Ph: (706) 592-2385 (home)
Ph: (706) 796-3444 (work)
CWayneGuilfoyle@augustaga.gov
District 9 – Marion Williams
Ph: (706) 910-2582 (cell)
mfwilliams@augustaga.gov
District 10 – Grady Smith
Ph: (706) 825-9473 (cell)
Ph: (706) 733-9473 (work)
cgradysmith@augustaga.gov
Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.
Ph: (706) 821-1831 (work)
mayordavis@augustaga.gov
For questions, please contact AKC Government Relations at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.
The Augusta-Richmond County Commission is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a proposed ordinance that would require spay/neuter for all impounded dogs and cats, regardless of the circumstances, and would enact additional problematic amendments to the city/ county animal ordinance.