Councilmember Proposes Tighter Animal Control Laws
News4Jax.com
March 2, 2004, JACKSONVILLE, FL--
City Councilman Jerry Holland is proposing tighter animal control laws in
Duval County, requiring owners to take more responsibility for their pets.
According to Holland (pictured, right), there are many examples of why the
animal control laws need to be changed. In some cases, pets have to be
turned over to the city and immediately put to sleep.
"There has been a need to look at dangerous animals better," said resident
Matt Gaines. In response to this need, Holland is proposing a new animal
control ordinance, calling for an update to cruelty laws and defining what's
considered a dangerous animal. The proposed ordinance also sets limits on
how and where dogs are chained outside and calls for bigger fines for people
who violate the law. This includes owners whose dogs are a neighborhood
nuisance or even bark too much. Another proposed change would be that
animals picked up by animal control would be fixed before they were returned
to their owners.
Though many local residents say strays are a problem, some think these new
measures might be going too far. "I don't see a problem," said pet owner
Maggie Gaines. "I don't know why we have to toughen up the laws." Her
husband agrees. "I think there is probably a better way," said Matthew
Gaines.
John Merritt (pictured, left), the head of Animal Control in Duval County,
said the proposed changes seem positive for the most part. "It gives us more
opportunity to work with people and to try and bring them into compliance,"
Merritt said. "We want to make sure … the animal is not going to be confined
in a way that is inhumane."
Animal rescue groups told Eyewitness News that they did help draw up the
proposed ordinance, but they said there are some areas that need to be
fine-tuned. Holland will go over the new rules with those groups and other
City Council members Wednesday before introducing the changes.
