The Shadow
Covington City Council continued discussions of a draft ordinance regarding responsible pet ownership during Tuesday night’s work session.
City Manager Krystal Onaitis initiated the discussion.
“Right now, it’s completely in draft phase,” Onaitis said.
She continued, “The effort was taken to try to whip something together based on what other localities on this end of the state have done, as well as the feedback that was provided at the last meeting.”
Onaitis also stated that conversations have been held with the Alleghany Humane Society and community stakeholders [Covington residents] and additional feedback has been given from those discussions.
Onaitis also tied WestRock and Ingevity into the responsible pet ownership ordinance discussion.
“From WestRock and Ingevity, apparently somehow animal restrictions and other things have been a barrier to recruitment, which is not something I think would be,” Onaitis stated.
Covington Vice Mayor David Crosier then joined the discussion by asking how to take care of cases where individuals have fed a high number of cats and what would be done to them.
Crosier cited cases on Cherry and Oak streets as examples.
Onaitis responded by stating that talks with the Alleghany Humane Society are ongoing on how to handle that type of situation.
Crosier then asked how the state handles that situation.
Crosier also said that he understood it as if an individual feeds a high number of animals, the individual owns the animals they are feeding.
Lt. Juan Roldan, who is currently acting as chief of the Covington Division of Police while Chief Chris Smith is away due to training, responded to Crosier’s concerns.
Roldan agreed with Crosier’s understand of the “feed it, you own it” philosophy by stating, “That’s how we’ve typically handled it in the past.
“You call, you have a dog for a week, you took ownership of that dog. Same deal with cats, you had these cats and you’re feeding them, and after two months now I have 13 cats, you’ve been feeding them for two months,” Roldan continued.
Later in the discussion regarding the responsible pet ownership ordinance, Onaitis stated that additional items were being discussed, such as a 90 degree temperature restriction and tethering requirements.
“Those are two major concerns they have in reference to dogs,” Roldan said of the Alleghany Humane Society.
Roldan said that the 90 degrees was changed from the old standard of 95 degrees, which was deemed too hot, and tethering of dogs had restrictions on heavy chains and choking collars.
It was also stated by Roldan that once the ordinance is in effect and if animals would be removed in large amounts, they would have to be taken to the Alleghany Humane Society on a schedule.
“They couldn’t take all of those animals at once,” Roldan said of the need of scheduled animal drop offs to the humane society.
Onaitis then said a proposal she deemed as innovative has been submitted in regard to this issue.
“A member of the community had suggested we could grandfather folks in or we could allow folks to have over a the number [of pets allowed], provided they pay a fee and then there would be an annual inspection to make sure the animals are being kept in a sanitary environment and it’s also sanitary for people living in that environment,” Onaitis said of the proposal.
“Something needs to be done,” District 3 Councilman Raymond Hunter said.
The following items were presented, discussed and approved during Tuesday’s work session:
— Monthly financial summary;
— Scheduling of several retreats (5 p.m. meetings) to start next week to review code updates and by-laws.
The following items were voted to be placed on the agenda of the regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 10:
— To consider an appointment to the Industrial Development Authority;
— To consider an appointment to the Redevelopment and Housing Authority;
— To consider an appointment to the Planning Commission;
— To consider Appropriation Resolution re: Bulletproof Vest Grant for the Covington Division of Police.
