Richland Council has been meeting with stakeholders for over a year to discuss potential changes to the Richland County Animal and Fowl Ordinance. The purpose of the proposed amendments to the ordinance was “to clarify and educate citizens and enforcement officers regarding acceptable and safe methods of tethering.” One of the major changes to the ordinance was the addition of a section dedicated to the laws concerning the tethering of pets to ensure more humane treatment and to prevent pets being tethered using methods that cause injury and abuse to the animals. The goal is to bring the county’s animal care ordinance current with industry standards and practices.
The internal stakeholders involved in the discussion of amending the ordinance include County Council, County Administration, Legal Department, Animal Services, Community Planning and Development, Business Service Center, Ombudsman, and Richland County Sheriff ’s Department. External stakeholders include Pawmetto Lifeline, The Humane Society of South Carolina, City of Columbia, Town of Irmo, Town of Blythewood, Animal Mission, and the Animal Care subcommittee. The stakeholder committee continues to meet quarterly.
The first reading of the ordinance as amended was approved on April 9. The second reading of the ordinance as amended was deferred at the following regularly scheduled Richland County Council meeting on April 16 to the next regularly scheduled council meeting. At both meetings, council members reported that they have received numerous emails from constituents with questions about the changes to the ordinance and the rules being written governing their behavior as owners of pets in the county.
At the April 16 meeting, several council members, including Allison Terracio and Don Weaver, shared that their constituents are concerned about the removal of the community cat program from the language of the ordinance. After discussion with Animal Care Director Sandra Haynes, the county administrator and county attorney, it was determined the ordinance has been misleading for many years regarding the community cat program. The existing option for those interested in having community cats trapped, spayed, and neutered is a voucher program sponsored by Richland County that provides vouchers to individuals to take community cats to businesses such as the Humane Society and Pawmetto Lifeline to be spayed and neutered. Richland County does not provide this service to the community.
After discussion and the determination that more discussion is needed, the second reading of the ordinance was deferred to the next council meeting.
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