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Swain Countycommissioners fail to adopt animal services ordinance after heated public debate
Summary
After extensive public comment and committee presentation, commissioners declined to adopt the proposed animal services ordinance on first consideration. The measure — revised to allow nonlethal defensive weapons for animal control officers and to create a county‑run animal services center — failed to win the unanimous vote required for first adoption, 4–1.
Gina Wiggins, a member of the animal services committee, presented a revised animal services ordinance intended to make the county's new shelter operational and to spell out duties, definitions and penalties. Wiggins said the draft incorporated public feedback and state law, citing North Carolina General Statute 14‑361.1 for the definition of "abandoned" and 14‑401.17 for a $500 fine for removing tracking collars.
"This was a very contentious change...to allow the animal control officer to carry nonlethal weapons while on duty," Wiggins said, describing edits that limit weapons to nonlethal devices but retain authority for humane euthanasia when an animal is gravely injured. The draft also establishes a Swain County animal services center to be staffed by county employees and overseen by an animal services director.
Public commenters raised repeated objections. Jesse Fortner said the public had not been given clear information about partner animal groups and urged that committee membership include people with shelter experience rather than only county employees. "We don't know who these groups are," Fortner said, asserting the need for transparency before adopting a new ordinance.
Lisa Barker told commissioners she feared firearms in the ordinance would endanger residents. "Carrying the gun is not what we need to see happening in our communities. Somebody's gonna get hurt," she said, urging training requirements and consideration of placing functions under the health department or sheriff's office.
Board discussion centered on training, certification and liability. Commissioners noted that North Carolina provides training guidelines for animal control officers and that operating procedures would specify required continuing education and qualifications; Wiggins said current officers have attended state training and that operating procedures would flesh out certifications.
A motion to accept the ordinance "as written" was made and seconded, but commissioners were reminded that, because this was the ordinance's initial consideration, the measure required unanimous approval. The motion failed 4–1, and the ordinance was not adopted at the meeting. Commissioners and staff said the committee would remain in place to address concerns and that the ordinance could be amended and returned to the board for future consideration.
The presentation also included an estimated annual operating cost for the center and discussion of staffing levels, recordkeeping and accountability; those details will be tracked if the ordinance is reintroduced.
Next steps: the committee will continue to refine operating procedures, address public concerns about training and oversight, and the board may revisit the ordinance at a future meeting.
