Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Beaufort County spotlights animal control officers, announces hiring and clarifies tethering rules
Loading...
Summary
On the Beaufort County Report, Christy from Animal Services described officers’ roles, said the county employs four officers by name, said a hiring recruitment is open, and clarified that tethering a dog outdoors is prohibited during hurricane watches or warnings.
The Beaufort County Report host interviewed Christy, an Animal Services staff member, about Animal Control Officers Appreciation Week and the department’s work protecting animals and advising owners.
Christy said animal control officers are "code enforcement officers that go out into the community, and they educate pet owners on the state and local laws and ordinances on how to keep their animals safe and protected." She added the department offers resources when available, including a pet food bank to help owners keep animals during tight economic times.
The detail matters locally because animal control officers are often visible only during incidents, Christy said. "They try to approach these issues with care, compassion, and education. Because it's never about the people, it's always about the animals," she said.
Christy clarified the scope of the office’s response: officers handle domestic animal and livestock calls but are not equipped to respond to wildlife such as snakes, raccoons, possums or alligators. For wildlife concerns, she directed residents to contact the Department of Natural Resources.
On staffing, Christy said Beaufort County currently has four animal control officers — Officer Montgomery, Officer Holstein, Officer Abel and Officer Hayward — and that they are "out in the community all the time." She said the county is advertising for an additional animal control officer and encouraged interested applicants to apply; the host noted hiring cannot proceed until July.
Christy also addressed local rules on tethering. She explained that, in general, animals may be tethered outdoors so long as they have food, water and shelter, but that Beaufort County law makes tethering a dog outside illegal during inclement conditions such as a hurricane watch or warning. "It's actually illegal in Beaufort County," she said, adding that officers emphasize safety during increasing severe-weather events.
For outreach during Appreciation Week, Christy said the department typically posts on its Facebook page and will run another appreciation post, though it can be difficult to capture officers on camera because they are often busy and reluctant to be photographed.
Christy closed by asking residents to remember that officers aim to keep animals safe, not to take animals from owners, and to accept educational interactions as guidance rather than punishment.
The segment did not include a formal vote or policy action; it was an informational interview. The department’s hiring timeline beyond "hiring not possible until July" and the exact county ordinance text on tethering were not specified in the interview.
