BALDWIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING - ANIMAL ORDINANCE * * April 15, 2025 6 2 1601 N Columbia St, Suite 220 0 OF COMRS 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES PRESENT Andrew Strickland, Chair Kendrick Butts Sammy Hall Emily C. Davis Scott Little OTHERS Carlos Tobar Brandon Palmer Dawn Hudson Bo Danuser CALL TO ORDER Baldwin County Board of Commissioners Chairman Andrew Strickland called the April 15, 2025 public hearing to order at 5:00 PM. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Strickland recognized commissioners for comments. Chairman Strickland read a comment stating the animal control budget had more than doubled because oft the large intake of animals and the root cause was the unwanted breading of animals. Commissioner Little thanked Deb Campbell and Pam Peacock and Allene Veazey from PAWS for Georgia who were instrumental in his education on spaying and neutering animals and the animal control ordinance. He stated the county's approach needed to be proactive and needed to guide how the county moved forward as a compassionate community. Commissioner Hall stated that he supported the ordinance but there were sections giving penalties for pet owners who wanted their animals unaltered. There was a discussion about charging fees for pet ownership. Chairman Strickland recognized speakers. Pam Peacock spoke in favor of the ordinance stating that the county should not euthanize their way out of the problem or pay their way out of it; citizens should be responsible for their pets. Mary Diuittorio spoke in opposition to the ordinance speaking against the mandatory sterilization of her animals indicating that this punished animal owners. She stated the animal shelter hours were not Page 1 enough. She discussed spaying and neutering the animals that were dumped on her and that responsible pet owners should not be punished for the pet owners that were not responsible. Desiree Liggins spoke in favor of the ordinance stating that some of the animal protection organizations were unavailable. She stated that dogs and cats did not have voices and that humans needed to be responsible. Cat Goodchild opposed the ordinance stating it wasn't right and that freedoms were being stepped on. She also stated that she should not have to pay if she did not have her pet fixed. She asked how long it would be before fees increased. She also asked why they could not enforce the leash law. There was a discussion about the cost of running the shelter, the number of animals being housed, and taking action to get in front of the problem. Judy Veal spoke in favor of the ordinance stating it was up to the county to shut down backyard breeders and the proposed ordinance was the best solution. Jeff Mangus spoke in favor of the ordinance stating he was permitted and licensed to breed dogs, he then asked that an exemption be included for licensed breeders. There was a discussion about imposing fees on pet owners who did things the right way and including an AKC: registration exemption for fees. Ali Duckworth addressed the commission about the health benefits of spaying and neutering animals at an early age. Dr. Christine Washington from the Heart of Georgia Animal Care addressed the commission in favor of the ordinance discussing animals roaming and stray animals being aggressive. She commented that something had to be done. Allene Veazy spoke in favor of the ordinance stating there were 45 puppies in the shelter and that she was grateful to animal control. She stated that the ordinance needed fleshing out and that some counties did not penalize pet owners unless the animal was picked up. ADJOURMENT Commissioner Hall made a motion to adjourn the public hearing. Commissioner Butts seconded the motion and the hearing was adjourned at 5:54 PM. Submitted, Andrèw Stricklénd, Chairman BaldwinCountyBoard of Commissioners Bo Danuser,County Clerk Baldwin County Georgia Page 2