Roseboro town clerk Drenda Ammons talks with mayor Roland Hall prior to Tuesday’s meeting. In the meeting, Ammons gave the board a draft of the town’s proposed dog and cat ordinance, which was approved pending review by the Sheriff’s Office and county leaders.
Staff Writer
Roseboro leaders have decided to put a choke hold on their dog and cat problems, voting Tuesday night to adopt an ordinance that calls for owners to have only three cats and/or four dogs.
In addition, the ordinance requires owners to have each pet leashed and to ensure they have all their shots.
The document also details how stray dogs and cats will be treated, if they are found without leashes on Roseboro streets.
On Tuesday night, town clerk Drenda Ammons provided the board with the first draft of the document that has been weighed for the last two months.
And, as soon as the board got a chance to look over the document, mayor Roland Hall advised members to approve the ordinance, pending the review of Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, who now leads Sampson County Animal Control.
However, with two members, Anthony Bennett and Arnold Sandy, absent from the meeting, commissioner James McLean addressed the group with his reservations about voting.
“I feel like since this is a sensitive subject, maybe we should wait until all of the commissioners are here,” said McLean, stressing that if the sheriff had not reviewed the document, it may not be a good time to vote.
While McLean had reservations about voting, mayor pro tem David Alexander said he felt that now was the most appropriate time to vote. In the past, Alexander has complained about seeing stray dogs roaming Roseboro’s streets.
“It is very detailed and needed,” said Alexander, adding, “We have dogs continuing to roam wild in West Roseboro.”
He then pointed out that a pit bull continues to be on the loose, frigthening residents as they leave their homes.
Alexander made the motion to adopt the ordinance, and it was passed unanimously.
Also in the ordinance is a requirement calling for dog and cat owners to pick up their pets’ feces left on public grounds and other people’s property.
Hall commented that he is aware of a number of towns that already make residents pick up after their pets, but he did not name any specifically.
In an interview, Hall expressed that Ammons and town attorney Bill Poole decided that limiting the number of animals would be reasonable, since other towns have similar laws on record.
“We have looked at other ordinances, and we tried to be reasonable, but if we don’t set limits, then some will have a yard full of animals,” said Hall.
He also commented that three cats and four dogs would be a number that could be “reasonably managed by a household.”
Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.
Tell your friend to sit back, grab a cold one and enjoy the reading. Sampson County will never be out of some sort of entertaining new drama.
Again thanks for the compliment.
For God sakes, what is becoming of our little hick towns? Are we all going to be driven out on a rail?
What's next drendra?
I just can't wait to see what your comeback is when I hit that nerve. TICKLES me to the upmost.
I've a friend that lives in another state that can't wait each day till he see's your comeback.
KEEP IT COMING, As far as what goes on around here I could care less. Fortunately I've made mine I don't have to worry about the daily grind that some does.
A .44 magnum at point blank range. By the time it takes to call the dispatcher, be put on hold and explain my situation, I'll have that mongrel in a bag and heading to the land fill.
They have more important things to do besides putting a noose around a dog's neck.