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Resident urges Appling County to address stray dogs, proposes ordinance and volunteer deputization
Summary
Resident Joe Dykstra told commissioners he has lost chickens and pets to stray dogs and suggested the county consider an animal-control ordinance, deputizing volunteers or assigning deputies, lowering microchip costs and funding programs through registration fees.
At the Nov. 4 meeting, resident Joe Dykstra addressed the board during public input to urge action on stray animals.
Dykstra said he has lost 11 chickens and three cats to stray dogs and described a personal incident in which he shot a dog on his property and nearly faced criminal exposure because the animal died on a neighbor’s property. "Who’s job is it to protect the citizens of Appling County?" he asked the commissioners. He said that, under current practice, only the sheriff’s department and animal control may trap or bait animals and that Appling County presently has no animal-control officer.
Dykstra proposed that the sheriff deputize volunteers or assign deputies specifically for animal control, suggested the county work with veterinarians to reduce microchip and spay/neuter costs, and said an ordinance could be self-supporting through registration fees and dog tags.
The board received his comments as public input; the meeting minutes do not record a board response or motion to study or adopt an ordinance following the comment.
Dykstra’s statements reflect personal experience and a proposed approach; the minutes do not include independent data on the frequency of stray-animal incidents or cost estimates for proposed programs.
