More than 100 citizens showed up at a recent Swain County commissioners’ work session to express their feelings regarding a proposed county animal ordinance. Although the public comment period had officially expired, commissioners agreed to hear comments again and extend the public comment period for written comments. The ordinance was tabled once again and commissioners said they would review the additional comments and revisit the ordinance.

This debate in Swain County provides a glimpse into the impact of growth in this part of Western North Carolina. Swain County is a closeknit community of neighbors, a place where grievances are often solved over a friendly cup of coffee rather than in court.

But Swain — like all WNC — is changing. Many are attracted to its natural beauty and rural charm. There has been an influx of permanent and seasonal residents. More people means a greater chance for conflict.

Some at the August meeting felt this influx was the driving force behind the proposed ordinance. Swain resident and avid hunter Ronnie Griggs said he didn’t feel it was fair for, “people to come out here and buy land, then start complaining.”

But the issue is more complex than a native vs. newcomer dispute. Bobby Crisp runs PAWS animal shelter in Swain County. Crisp says her roots run deep in Swain County, and she feels there is a great need for an animal ordinance.

“The county needs to take responsibility for stray animals.”

During a recent phone interview, Crisp said that PAWS stays full and there are always animals on the waiting list, plus, “I have animals dumped over my gate on a regular basis.”

Currently Swain contracts with Cherokee County for animal control. An officer from Cherokee comes to Swain on Tuesdays from 12 to 4 p.m. Crisp said that coverage was woefully inadequate and the only option citizens were left with was to transport strays themselves, which is an 80-mile round trip.

Crisp said the ordinance was not about controlling hunting dogs or farm animals. “It’s a public health and public safety issue,” she said. There is a need for records regarding rabies vaccinations and a need for owner registration.

The issue of vicious dogs was also raised. J.H. Lawton told commissioners he and his wife and others at Ella Campground felt threatened by three rottweilers that freely roamed the premises.

Swain County resident James King, who has been an outspoken critic of the proposed ordinance, said in a phone interview that dangerous animals needed to be addressed. But, King said, these were the kinds of issues neighbors traditionally addressed between themselves.

The ordinance, if enacted in its present form, would prohibit people from dispatching a dangerous animal on their own property, King said.

“I’m not against this ordinance because I don’t want to be responsible – this ordinance is just totally out of proportion for Swain County,” he said.

King and Griggs both believe the ordinance, as it is written, would make hunting with dogs in Swain County illegal. According to both, the ordinance states a dog owner must be in control of his animal at all times.

“Once you unsnap that leash, you’re no longer in control,” King said.

Griggs said he let a couple of attorneys look at the ordinance and they both said hunters would be in violation of the ordinance and their animals could be deemed “at large.”

Griggs said he had thought about supporting a collar law for the county but didn’t know how effective that would be because hunting dogs sometimes slip out of their collars or people sometimes remove them.

King said it was his understanding most complaints came from within the city limits of Bryson City. He said he understood strays and nuisance animals could be a dilemma within the city limits but felt a countywide ordinance like the one proposed was too restrictive.

Crisp said the paradox of the ordinance is that if everyone were responsible pet owners there would be no need for the ordinance, and those who are irresponsible pet owners will never understand the need for regulation.

Two things are inescapable: Dog and cat overpopulation across this country is an immense concern, both from a public health standpoint and from a humane standpoint. Swain County, with its growing population, is not immune to this issue.

To Swain’s credit, it is evident some people from both sides of this matter are listening to one another. It is also evident that county commissioners are listening to both parties.

County Board Chairman Jim Douthit said commissioners would be reviewing the additional comments and there would be plenty of public notice before any official action was taken.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News