Thursday, September 21, 2023–5:39 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
A new animal alteration ordinance is set to go onto first reading during Tuesday’s Floyd County Commission meeting.
Floyd County Public Animal Welfare Services Director Kay Walters told members of the county’s public safety committee on Thursday that the ordinance, which is in response to an explosion in the stray animal population, will encompass spay-neuter and micro-chipping.
“The requirements of this ordinance will be for all dogs, ages six months and older, to be spayed or neutered and micro-chipped at the same time,” she said. “Then we are asking the same for cats at four months of age. The reason for the age difference is that cats mature sexually earlier than dogs.”
There would be several exceptions, such as if the animal is not medically sound or is a working animal, such as police canines or hunting dogs. Licensed breeders would also be exempt. Walters said as the ordinance is implemented, there would be a six-month education period. Violations of the ordinance, if implemented, could result in citations and fines.
“Animal control is not going to be actively searching for unaltered pets,” Walters said. “It will come as a secondary to a call-out we already have in the area. So, if we receive a call for service regarding an animal in that area, we will check its status.”
The goal is to reduce the number of stray calls within 18 months and a reduction in euthanization rates. During the compliance period, animal control will start a controlled intake of stray animals and implement a new policy on euthanasia with a stricter timeline for community-compatible dogs.
In 2017, Floyd County invited an animal advocacy group called Operation Target Zero to come in and make suggestions on how to lower euthanization rates. The majority of the recommendations were adopted which has resulted in a live outcome rate consistently in the neighborhood of 95 percent.
On the other hand, space at the PAWS facility remains an issue.
“If we had 1,000 kennels, they’d all be full right now,” said County Manager Jamie McCord.
The county is currently not accepting surrenders or picking up stray animals. According to Walters, there were 73 calls in July that they could not respond to.
“I think we have a conflict with our policy and our ordinance,” he said. “Basically, our charter says that our job is to control the stray animal population, and we’re not doing that by not taking in animals.”
Hancock believes the spay-neuter policy will help, but the county has to find a way to start taking in animals.
“That [live outcome] rate is going to have to drop below 97 percent,” he said. “I know some commissioners won’t be happy with that, but we have to do something. We can’t just tell people we’re not going to pick up stray animals.”
Hancock believes that if the live outcome decreases even a little, it will encourage more rescues and adoptions at the shelter.
“It’s a double-edged sword, but it’s a fact,” he said.”
Public Safety Division Director John Blalock told the committee that he expects that if the ordinance passes the way that it is, the euthanasia rates will increase, but hopefully, that will be temporary.
“Right now, we have unaltered animals, strays not pets, running all over the county,’ he said. “They are mass-reproducing, and every year the problem is getting worse and worse.”
There are plans to make a presentation regarding the new ordinance to both the City of Cave Spring and the City of Rome.
