Public hearings set for possible changes to animal ordinances

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 24, 2003
One of the first things the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors plans to consider next year will be strengthening the county's animal control ordinances.
Supervisors have set a public hearing on the issue for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 5, their first regular meeting for 2004, to consider amendments proposed by Dewayne Sosebee, animal control director.
One proposed change to the county animal control ordinance concerns dangerous or vicious animals. Rick Barry, attorney for the board of supervisors, said the amendment would give the county the authority to kill an animal deemed vicious.
Barry told supervisors last week that the amendment would add a provision similar to Meridian's ordinance dealing with vicious animals. The county's animal control ordinances apply only to unincorporated areas of Lauderdale County.
A second proposed change would be to an ordinance Barry said the county adopted in 1996 that requires a permit for owners of large, dangerous or predatory animals.
Barry said at the time the ordinance was approved, it was thought someone was considering bringing tigers or lions into the county. He said the proposed amendment would add to the definition of those animals specifically wolves.