Sides find common ground on York County tethering proposal

Leaders pass second of required three votes to put law into effect

By Charles D. Perry - cperry@heraldonline.com

YORK -- Two groups -- those who oppose tethering a dog and those who support it -- accomplished something Monday night that they've done rarely in recent months.

They agreed.

Despite their sparring over the tethering issue, both sides seemed to find common ground with York County's proposed animal control law, which gained another step toward permanence Monday.

"We may not have all the answers right now," said County Councilman Paul Lindemann, who noted that he'd received more community feedback on the tethering issue than anything else he'd dealt with in his two years on the council. "Hopefully, as big an issue as this has been, that both sides have come to some happiness."

Leaders unanimously passed the second of the required three votes to institute the law.

The law would create tougher requirements for providing animals shelter and give enforcement powers to animal control officers, including the ability to serve search warrants and ticket those suspected of violating the county's animal policies.

The law also allows tethering, but with certain restrictions.

Under the proposed guidelines, there are specific requirements for the length, weight and location of the chain.

Along with the key vote, Monday night also was the public hearing for the law, and people from both camps packed the council chambers for their chance to speak.

The list of those wanting to talk to the council consisted of two pages of names. Four uniformed deputies and one plainclothes officer monitored the crowd, but the meeting passed peacefully.

Even though they didn't like the tethering part of the law, animal rights groups saw it as a success, especially because the policy requires better living conditions for animals.

"The progress thus far has been absolutely wonderful," said supporter Ashley Blair, who lives in the county. "However, more stringent ordinances should be considered in the future."

On the other side, tethering proponents didn't feel threatened by the new rules.

"As far as a clean living area, access to water, that's common sense," said David Morrison of York. "If you're not going to give your dog a clean living area, if you're not going to give him access to water, you don't deserve to have a dog."

Leaders saw the move as a compromise between improving animal care and infringing on others' rights.

"It's not perfect," said Council Chairman Buddy Motz. "But it's the best we can do right now."