HSYC director clarifies city animal ordinance proposals

The Graham City Council tabled action on animal ordinance changes during their July meeting. The ordinance changes were submitted to the council in June by members of the Humane Society of Young County, Graham Police Department and the city of Graham. HSYC Director Shelby Brogdon stated the changes were submitted due to animals at large within the city.

The new animals and fowl ordinance changes were submitted to the council Thursday, June 9. The proposed changes were created by a group composed of HSYC Board President Heather Allen, HSYC Director Shelby Brogdon, Graham Animal Control Officer Kimberly Shawver, GPD Chief Brent Bullock and former Graham City Manager Brandon Anderson.

“These proposed updates came about because of discussions about ‘repeat offender’ dogs coming into the Humane Society of Young County from the City of Graham. Our shelter is seeing the same owned dogs running at large, on social media sites they are reported as found, and being picked up by Animal Control and brought to the shelter,” Brogdon wrote in a statement. “This issue isn’t a ‘pit bull’ problem and the ordinance proposals didn’t come about because of any breed, or even because of dogs that are deemed dangerous. These proposals were started because the same people are continuing to either let their dog(s) run at large or are failing to keep the dog(s) in an area that will contain them.”

The director wrote that dogs at large in the city cause many issues such as an increase in the likelihood of bites to people and attacks on other animals. Animals on the loose can also turn over garbage containers and spread diseases.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Aug. 3 edition of The Graham Leader.