New animal ordinance is approved

It has taken a month to draft, and it was brought to the Lincoln County Commission twice for approval, but on Wednesday, the board approved an updated animal ordinance.

The document, which was provided with its amendments in red, deletions with strike-throughs, is the work of County Environmental Health Director Kathi Hooper and Animal Control Enforcement Officer Sarah Pisciotta.

In its new form, the ordinace is about twice as comprehensive as it was before.

“It updates so many things that were outdated,” Hooper said, indicating there now are clearly defined rules and penalties for kennels, food and water requirements and guidelines for those whose pets harass, chase or attack another pet.

The new ordinance stopped short of defining a vicious dog to the satisfacation of Elaine Lundin, who has twice attended the meeting seeking stricker fines for pet owners whose animals kill, as one has done to two of her cats.

“Why can’t we define a vicious dog as one that kills, like this dog did to my two cats. It ate them alive,” said Lundin of the dog that was fined $50 for the attacks.

Lundin’s concerns were not wasted on Commissioner Marianne Roose.

Roose sympathized with Lundin and said “no one should lose a pet that way.”