- October 31, 2024
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Some local animal advocates were not pleased when Flagler County commissioners voted in September to restrict the conditions under which people can tether dogs outside unattended: They felt that the restrictions, which had been scaled back from an earlier proposal, didn't go far enough to protect dogs.
Now, two commissioners have said they may be willing to consider altering the ordinance.
"When you make a law, it’s never perfect, and ... I would be open to further discussion and tweaking of that ordinance."
— DONALD O'BRIEN, Flagler County commissioner
The earlier proposed version of the ordinance, which had been backed by the Flagler Humane Society, would have barred people from leaving their dogs unattended outside on chains or tethers in all but a handful of instances in which the individual would be within sight of the dog.
After an American Kennel Club representative spoke with the county administrator and emailed county commissioners to oppose the ordinance, writing that its language did not consider "humane and necessary" uses of tethers — for instance, she wrote, confining an "escape artist" dog to a fenced yard — the county amended the proposed ordinance to allow unattended dog tethering if the dog has access to shade and water and the tether isn’t a heavy chain or of a length that would cause the dog to be hanged by the tether if the dog jumped a fence or other barrier.
County commissioners then voted 5-0 to approve the amended version of the ordinance — and, after they did so, started getting emails from displeased dog advocates.
Speaking near the end of a County Commission meeting Oct. 21, County Commissioner Joe Mullins said he was planning to meeting with Flagler Humane Society Executive Director Amy Carotenuto about the tethering ordinance.
"I’ve a heard a lot of concerns out on the west for it and against it," Mullins said. He added that the goal of the conversation would be "just kind of sitting down and sorting through it, and getting everybody to the table."
Commissioner Donald O'Brien said he'd also gotten resident feedback about the ordinance, and would be willing to discuss it again. He said the immediate goal for commissioners when the ordinance was passed had been getting some kind of protection on the books: Flagler, at the time, had no restrictions on dog tethering.
"Most of the emails that I got were vitriolic and not really understanding the process, but there were also a lot of good suggestions and a lot good healthy dialogue," O'Brien said. "When you make a law, it’s never perfect, and ... I would be open to further discussion and tweaking of that ordinance."
He added, "Every one of the commissioners here, we’re all dog lovers. So we’re not insensitive to the humane treatment of animals, and dogs in particular. I think we all love our dogs, and we want to do the right thing."
The ordinance applies only in areas in which the county government, as opposed to local city governments, has jurisdiction — in unincorporated areas, and not to land that falls within the boundaries of the city of Palm Coast, city of Bunnell or city of Flagler Beach.
