State-Journal.com - City may prohibit chaining animals

One-year-old Rottweiler mix, Big Boy, was found hanging in its yard on East Main Street. (Photo submitted)

If the City Commission has its way, a law against chaining animals will go into effect in about 60 days following public hearings and required readings.

Meeting in a public work session Monday night, the Commission asked its attorney, Rob Moore, to draft a law regarding chained animals after a 1-year-old Rottweiler mix, Big Boy, was found hanging in its yard on East Main Street.

“I want to see a law that says no chains,” said Commissioner Kathy Carter. She said it would make it less confusing to enforcement officials who have to cite owners.

“And while we are at it, I also want something on the books that addresses animals that ride in the back of trucks,” Carter said. “They are in danger as well.”

Traci Miller, founder of Speak Out And Rescue, offered her help. She had previously give the commission a copy of Lexington’s law.

“I will do whatever I can to help you create this law,” she said.

Erin Holler, a member of SOAR who lives on East Main Street, rushed to Big Boy’s aid when neighbor Marsha Peasley discovered the dog in a choke collar and flailing over a wall near the Kentucky Military Museum late last month.

“I knew Big Boy,” Holler said. “I saw him almost every day and often untangled his chain. He was a sweet dog, and he did not have to die.”

The commissioners also heard about issues regarding the Humane Society’s management of the shelter.

About 70 attended to seek changes after Copper, an 11-year-old Shiba Inu, was identified as a coyote by the manager, Regina McDaniel, July 3 and turned loose to roam free.

Copper’s owner, Lori Goodlett, made an impassioned and sometimes-tearful plea Monday.

“I am convinced that if shelter officials had taken my calls, I could have had her that day, but I was hung up on twice trying to notify the shelter about my dog,” Goodlett said as she wept.

Barbara Murray, who coordinates the ongoing search for Copper, says she’s not giving up.

Murray broke down. She said that earlier Monday she had taken Goodlett to an area where a dog matching Copper’s description had been found dead on the road. “It was not Copper.”

However, Murray questioned why searchers were no longer allowed in the area surrounding Home Depot.

“It has been blocked off, and we no longer can go on the site where Copper was released,” Murray said.

There was no immediate answer from police or the Commission.

Frankfort attorney Bill Kirkland, representing the Humane Society’s board, apologized to Goodlett and the supporters.

“This was a mistake,” Kirkland said. “Regina is just sick about this. She is sorry, the board is sorry and I am sorry.”

McDaniel, who has been on medical leave since the incident because of a scheduled surgery, has returned.

Mayor Gippy Graham said he visited the shelter earlier Monday before the work session.

“I believe we can get the problems worked out,” Graham told the audience.

Kirkland wants the United States Humane Society in Washington, D.C., to evaluate the shelter and its operations.

“I have spoken to officials there and they are willing to come. How quickly will depend on whether or not we can be moved to the top of their waiting list.”

Kirkland said the Humane Society is operating on a 60-year-old charter with outdated bylaws.

“I will recommend to the board that we take advantage of this survey by the United States Humane Society and insist they talk to people,” Kirkland said. He stood for more than an hour taking questions from commissioners.

A key issue is the euthanasia rate, which has been reported as high as 80 percent.

Kirkland said he’s willing to talk with “people who live in the real world – live in the reality – that while it is heart rendering, euthanasia is reality. I believe the rate for the city is around 60 percent.”

Commissioner Sellus Wilder said he doesn’t want the city to renegotiate its contract with the Humane Society until many of the concerns aired Monday are addressed.

Wilder said the attorney general has ruled that an agency getting one-fourth of its funding from government is subject to open records laws.

Wilder also wants the Humane Society to work closer with groups in fostering and fundraising.

“I don’t want to ever hear again that the shelter refuses to partner with L.I.F.E. House to raise money,” Wilder said. “That is not acceptable.”

Wilder said he would not oppose the appointment of a commissioner to the board representing taxpayers’ interests, a recommendation of several supporters.

“I would be careful about appointing a commissioner to the Humane Society board,” Kirkland cautioned. “You can be held liable just as the board is.”

Commissioner Rodney Williams questioned why the shelter would charge a fee for a dog that is going to be destroyed.

Kirkland responded that a dog slated for adoption is not going to be destroyed. “There are costs involved with keeping the animals, and these have to be recovered.”

Williams argued that perhaps fees can be lowered for dogs that have been designated for euthanasia.

Kirkland and activist Trudi Johnson, a spokesperson for the group requesting changes at the shelter, will meet today to examine the major issues surrounding the shelter.

“I consider Ms. Johnson and Mr. Kirkland a committee that represents both sides and hopefully they can iron out some of the problems that we are hearing about,” Graham said.

An open forum for citizens and officials will be Saturday from 3 – 5 p.m. at the Paul Sawyier Public Library.

17.	Posted by gemini August 11, 2010
	WILDCAT BLUE-- you are right! stupid, irresponsible, immature, mentally ill people SHOULD NOT be pet owners! DANIEL2497451: I agree this law will create some shaking & moving on individuals' part, but humans are not INHERENTLY "GOOD." They are "BAD," and have to work at being good & moral. That said, the masses will not think like you do. Given the chance, the masses WILL NOT rise up to do "the right thing" with their dog or cat. ROCKSOLID: I, personally, know of another instance in this town where the situation and settings are just ready to be BIG BOY MURDER #2. The owner has been warned, warned, told, given food, suggestions, warned, etc., and still this idiot has got the dog in the same situation as Big Boy was.........SO---here's ANOTHER situation in town just like what happened last week! Ask LifeHouse for Animals, SOAR, or other citizens about any other known scenarios like Big Boy. I'll bet you will find MANY that exist in this town. That's not counting the ones happening that folks don't HAVE THE BALLS to turn in to authorities. Frankfort/Franklin Co. stems from an origin of an area that once had a lot of farmers and a time when "pets" were considered just another piece of property: they may live; they may die. And so what. WELL, that attitude has got to change and is changing and will continue to change. There's always an alternative: have a fenced yard---improves YOUR PROPERTY'S VALUE! Make the dog happy! BOWEN40831: What about a chained dog trying to defend itself against another dog that's been allowed to run loose and is attacking the HELL OUT OF IT??????? That's another situation I've seen in Frankfort: Stupid idiot in one house keeps dog chained OUTSIDE in a dirty, dirt area--usually no water; no food; no walking; no playing with. Next door is Pit Bull who keeps getting loose AND roaming the area. GET THE PICTURE? CHSMITH1108: I pray to GOD that the owners of Big Boy are prosecuted so harshly. And I DON'T BUY that these idiots "accidently" killed this dog! There are witnesses of the ongoing treatment of the dog, over & over!

13.	Posted by RickRojack August 11, 2010
	For someone who shoots birds for sport and whips dogs to get them to pull a sled, Kathy Carter sure does act like she cares about animals. Sled dogs are kept in cages, except for when they are tied to a sled and made to pull their "masters" who are either competing in a grueling competition or are just on vacation and flogging them just for fun. The "Ruffed Grouse" which Kathy enjoys hunting in Wisconsin is a ground nesting bird whose population has declined severely in recent decades due to habitat loss. This is according the the Wikipedia article on said bird. Kathy travels to Wisconsin where a paid guide takes her to a predetermined location. She "hunts" until she reaches her limit of birds. Her kill is then cleaned and dressed for her. Her attempt to violate the privacy and impose her "politically correct" point of view is a text book example of reactionary legislation. Her profile on the Frankfort city website shows anyone who looks at it exactly what she thinks of herself. She thinks that she is better then the people that she governs. The paragraph that details the "revitalization" of Chinn Avenue states that she owns 8 of the 10 houses on that street and that all of her tenants are responsible people/families. Compared to what Kathy? everyone else that lives in that part of town? Politicians and police men/women, and the "manager of a local business" is who you say your tenants are, Would you list your tenants if they included cooks, gas station cashiers, and construction workers? I doubt it. That is a pity because a great deal of the people you allegedly represent live pay check to pay check, and while that might not spell "responsible" in your book, it does in mine. your job is to serve the will of the people not impose your whims that seem like a good idea at the time you have them. "And while we are at it, I also want something on the books that addresses animals that ride in the back of trucks," Carter said. "They are in danger as well." Give me a break.