News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Animal Abuse prevention in Warren County could get a boost from two resolutions at Monday night’s county commission meeting.
Health and Welfare Chairman Blaine Wilcher said this will address long standing issues of inadequate housing and improper tethering. Wilcher said the need has been amplified by concerned citizens and what animal control is seeing on calls.
“Animals being froze to death on the chain, having prong collars on that had dug into their skin,” Wilcher said. “Chains being wadded up because they didn’t have swivels on them. Then obviously, on the sheltering part, many cases where a dog didn’t have a house.”
Wilcher said that addressing chains without swivels and improper or non-existent housing were the right place to start, setting a standard for animal care. He said the resolutions would include a $50 fine for a first offense. Wilcher said the plan is to try and supply the proper chains to people who cannot afford them.
“Both of them are results of different animal abuse cases we’ve had locally over the past several years and it’s gotten more attention over the last few months,” Wilcher said. “We were approached by several concerned citizens in our health and welfare committee to look into it. Since about February our committee has been working on these two resolutions to address the proper tethering and the proper sheltering of animals.”
Wilcher said that along with the $50 fine, owners will be asked to get into compliance if the resolutions pass. He said that if they are passed on Monday night, they would go into effect.
