August 19, 2019
URGENT: The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to take action TODAY on problematic and overreaching requirements that would apply to all dog and cat owners in the county. The proposed ordinance would also criminalize certain accepted animal husbandry practices as performed by animal owners. Click here to view the meeting agenda and scroll down in the document to view the proposed ordinance.
Concerned residents are urged to IMMEDIATELY contact their elected officials in Flagler County to politely state concerns, and to attend the meeting TODAY, 8/19/19, at 5:00 p.m.
Under this proposed ordinance, every dog and cat owner would be required to at all times have available for inspection an official health certificate for the dog or cat. An “official health certificate” is defined as a certificate signed by a veterinarian that states the animal has no contagious or infectious disease.
Generally, veterinary health certificates have an expiration date of between 10 to 30 days from date of issue. Therefore, not only would dog and cat owners be required to renew these certificates on an undetermined schedule, they would also be required to carry and show the certificates on demand.
Additional provisions of concern include, but are not limited to:
It would be a violation to fail to provide an animal with a continuous supply of fresh water. “Continuous” means “without interruption”. This provision does not consider the many circumstances wherein water might be offered to an animal on a non-continuous basis under accepted and humane animal husbandry protocols. These circumstances would include providing water to an animal on a schedule that maintains its health and hydration, carefully monitoring and controlling water intake when house training a puppy, restricting water until it cools out for a horse that has been ridden or free-exercised, withholding water from an animal under direction of veterinarian, and numerous other circumstances wherein “continuous” access to water is not in the animal’s best interest.
The proposed ordinance reestablishes mandatory annual vaccinations for dogs and cats that are not in accordance with many current recommended veterinary protocols. No provision for providing a different schedule of vaccinations under the direction of a veterinarian is provided.
The proposed ordinance establishes tethering restrictions.
The maximum civil penalty for non-compliance would be $500 per violation.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Immediately contact members of the Board of County Commissioners to express concerns. Click here for district and contact information.
Charles Ericksen Jr., cericksen@flaglercounty.org
Gregory Hansen, ghansen@flaglercounty.org
David Sullivan, dsullivan@flaglercounty.org
Joseph Mullins, jmullins@flaglercounty.org
Donald O’Brien Jr., dobrien@flaglercounty.org
Attend tonight’s Board of County Commissioners meeting to provide resident input.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Meeting
August 19, 2019, 5:00 p.m.
Government Services Building 2, Board Chambers
1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL 32110
Click here for information about addressing the Commission.
For more information, please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or call 919-816-3720.