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DeKalb County animal control officer proposes ordinance rewrite; commissioners approve first reading
Summary
Animal control officer Erica Hedge presented a rewrite of DeKalb County's animal control ordinance—adding a restraint standard, a hoarding definition and moving enforcement toward traffic-style citation— and commissioners approved the measure on first reading. The ordinance was assigned 2025-OD-8DCC15-3-3.
Erica Hedge, the DeKalb County animal control officer, told commissioners she had rewritten the county's animal control ordinance to add clearer definitions and streamline enforcement, and asked the board to advance the code change on first reading. "The ordinance that you have in front of you is what is the current ordinance, but then what is in red is what has been changed," Hedge said, describing three primary changes.
Hedge said the draft replaces the older "running at large" language with a "restraint" standard that requires animals to be on a leash, physically confined or remain on the owner's property, with exceptions for hunting or farming activities under owner control. She also proposed a hoarding definition that would be triggered when a household has eight or more dogs and cats, or 15 or more total animals and the animals do not receive proper food, water, shelter or sanitation. "So once they have 8 or more dogs and cats, and then they're not given proper food and water, proper shelter, sanitation ... that meets the definition of hoarding," Hedge said.
Hedge also asked the commissioners to change enforcement from requiring alleged violators to appear before the board to a system more like traffic citations and municipal court, saying that would align county practice with other enforcement bodies and be more efficient for residents and staff. Commissioners discussed how the approach would affect breeders and kennels; Hedge said the proposed hoarding provisions were meant to protect well-run operations while targeting neglect and unsanitary conditions.
After discussion and public comment, commissioners moved and seconded action to adopt the ordinance on first reading and assigned it ordinance number 2025-OD-8DCC15-3-3. The motion carried on a voice vote. Commissioners said they would consider second and third readings at future meetings and that enforcement specifics and penalties would remain available for further refinement and public input.
The ordinance as presented adds an animal control officer definition, replaces running-at-large language with restraint rules, defines animal hoarding and changes the enforcement pathway to a citation-style process. The county clerk/staff will formally publish the first-reading action and return the ordinance to the board for subsequent readings and final adoption.
