A new committee to address recommendations for improving parts of the city of Spartanburg’s animal ordinance was formed by City Council on Monday night.
The committee – whose members will include Councilwoman Erica Brown, Councilman Max Hyde, city animal services officers Mike Johnson and Jessica Burdine and a yet-to-be-determined senior city staff member – was created by Mayor Junie White to help address the public’s growing concern about pet owners leaving their animals outside in extreme weather.
“We’re not specific enough in my opinion in terms of proper shelter (in the city code),” Brown said. “We don’t know the terms of what is considered harsh weather. Me personally, I would like to see us revisit the ordinance.”
Brown wanted to see city staff come back to the council with recommendations on how to tighten the ordinance by better defining these terms. She said she’d also like to see an anti-tethering ordinance and temperature parameters included.
Her motion, however, wasn’t seconded and was followed by White’s motion to form the committee.
A committee meeting schedule wasn’t immediately set by the council, but meetings will be open to the public. Any recommendations the committee comes up with will be formally presented to City Council.
Monday’s discussion was largely prompted by several residents voicing concern to council members earlier this month, including Spartanburg attorney Josh Lonon who started an online petition calling for firmer rules for pets kept outside in extreme weather.
Lonon posted the petition on change.org on Jan. 5 after hearing about dogs left outside without shelter during a recent cold spell in the Upstate.
The petition has garnered attention in and beyond Spartanburg with nearly 12,000 signatures. People were still signing the petition Monday evening.
The petition states it should be illegal for owners to leave pets leashed and alone or caged outside in dangerous weather conditions for a length of time determined by qualified experts. Violators should face stiff fines, or jail time if they are repeat offenders, the petition says.
City code currently states pet owners must provide animals with clean, fresh water, wholesome food, proper shelter and protection from the weather.
The city’s ordinance states that a “proper shelter” includes a protective covering that provides protection from all forms of weather, has at least four sides, a roof, a floor and an opening for entering and exiting. The structure must also be appropriately sized for the animal.
The code also prohibits people from tethering animals outside unless the device used is at least 10 feet long and attached in a safe way that prevents strangulation.
Spartanburg Police Major Steve Lamb said during the past decade the city has focused its efforts more on providing animal services versus animal control.
“We try to stop the writing of tickets to everyone and try the educational side,” he said. “It’s been successful for us.”
Lamb said animal services officers respond to an average of 2,000 animal welfare calls every year.
“We went from hundreds of tickets in 2005 and in 2015 we wrote five,” he said. “In 2016, we wrote 16 tickets and last year we wrote 26.”