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Rutherford County updates dangerous-dog rules, extends reporting and restriction windows to 24 months
Summary
The county approved revisions to rules and to the dangerous/potentially dangerous dog ordinance, extending the look-back and restriction periods from 18 months to 24 months and adding timing language for required restrictions.
Rutherford County officials approved revisions to the animal rules and the dangerous/potentially dangerous dog ordinance on June 16, extending the time period used to evaluate and restrict animals from 18 months to 24 months.
Paul (animal shelter representative) told the Public Safety Committee the changes lengthen the period during which certain behaviors can be considered and extend the restriction period to 24 months. "This changes it such that it, can do these things over a 24 month period, and it extends out the restriction period for 24 months as well," Paul said. The revisions also add language about the deadlines when restrictions must be met.
Committee members said the updates had been reviewed by county attorneys and had already gone through a steering committee. The item had been presented earlier to steering because that committee met before the Public Safety Committee this month, staff said.
The committee moved to approve the rule changes; the motion passed on voice vote. Staff said the Department of Agriculture retains authority over livestock-related complaints and that violations concerning livestock cruelty are handled through state processes rather than county animal-control rules.
The committee asked staff to clarify zoning versus animal-control responsibilities for small-scale livestock such as backyard chickens; staff replied zoning and building-code rules, not animal-control rules, govern those issues.
