December 11, 2023

Commissioner Cox

was present via telephone.

Commissioner Carbone

said rules were posted at the dog parks and he did not want to put that in the Code, but if the Commissioners wanted it in that would be fine.

Commissioner Strickland

thought it should be in the Code. Brian Kunzi said that was a good suggestion. He could put language in that would indicate “otherwise provided by rules posted at the parks” or something of that nature. Scott Shoemaker said he was on the previous animal advisory committee. He felt the foundation for redoing Title 6 was based on false representations. He said the whole premise of loading down permit holders with all of these requirements was to try to get the numbers down was basically a false representation because the numbers were under 25 so the current Title 6 was actually working. Mr. Shoemaker thought there needed to be a better definition of what animals were covered under vicious and dangerous. He disagreed with removing all the language regarding cruelty and neglect as the reason it was in there was because if it was not in Title 6 all fines went to the State. Mr. Shoemaker recommended the draft be thrown out and changes be made on facts and actual errors and inconsistencies in the current Code rather than try and revamp this and load this down with stuff that had no relevance to permit holders. Pat Minshall thought doubling the limit to 14 dogs was way too many and that 10 was more than enough. Herman Lewis also disagreed with the increase to 14 dogs and asked the Board to bring it down to five or six. Ammie Nelson said she did not see anything about Code Compliance in the enforcement section. They went out and investigated dogs barking and things like that so she suggested they be included. As to the increase in dogs to 14, she felt that just invited more hoarding issues. She also thought that animals taken by the County December 11, 2023 3. For Discussion Review and input concerning potential amendments to Nye County Code Title 6 Animals. No formal action will be taken at this meeting Cont’d. because someone passed away or was incarcerated should be given to the family without having to go through County Administration. Suzanne Zervantian expressed her concerns with the definitions of an animal pack, animal services, licensed veterinary personnel, and core vaccines. Jason Mann commented the laws that were already on the books were not being enforced now, but more laws were being added. He also disagreed with the increase to 14 dogs. Helene Williams thought 14 dogs was too many and wondered how the changes would be funded. She thought the recommendation for an animal advisory committee was a good one. Dennis Carroll spoke on how he felt when he worked at the kennels and said he could not do it anymore. He suggested the Commissioners go look for themselves. Wendy Gatlin discussed the amount of work involved in running a shelter with the number of animals they received. That was why she really wanted to push spay/neuter and she suggested pricing breeders out of business. Zuzana Zukol agreed with others that the bill needed to be tossed. She said the shelter fees were being collected in cash only, which was illegal, and an account should have been created for those fees. She also mentioned some people did not have to pay $250.00 for their Title 6 permits and she suggested the Commissioners investigate that.

Ms. Zukol

wanted to know why the Commissioners wanted more laws against the law abiding citizens when the County was not even going after the people who actually were the problem.

Commissioner Cox

agreed with everyone that 14 dogs was way overboard. She did not know why the limitation on dogs was ever put it in unless it was something special for breeders, but she was opposed to the increase. She agreed with animals being given to family members if the owners were incarcerated and then putting them up for adoption if the family declined. She did not support forced vaccinations, forced microchipping, or forced spaying/neutering, and thought animal packs needed a clearer definition

Commissioner Boskovich

thought 14 dogs was ridiculous and he would never support anything over 10. As to the breeders, he said the good breeders who took care of their animals were fine, but the problem was at the end of the day there were people who abused the system and he thought there should be a limit on it. Commissioner Boskovich said once permits expired or people did not renew that number should be December 11, 2023 3. For Discussion Review and input concerning potential amendments to Nye County Code Title 6 Animals. No formal action will be taken at this meeting Cont’d. brought down to a manageable number. He also agreed with having an advisory board of people who knew what they were doing and could provide great input, and he thought there should be stifler penalties

Commissioner Carbone

said the 2016 version of Title 6 was never released so the old document remained in place which contained the 10 dogs instead of five dogs as was in the 2016 version. He did not know how to bring people who had 10 dogs now down to five. He explained the reason for the multi-pet permit was to have more dogs or more cats than what one would normally have. He did not disagree it could be lower, but 14 was the happy medium, although not everyone agreed on that. Commissioner Carbone said something had to be put in the plan to get comments. As to holding animals for people who were incarcerated or actually sick, Commissioner Carbone said he had experienced finding people and moving the animals to other states, which was really tough in some cases. Brian Kunzi said everything was on the table in the overhaul of the Code and the Commissioners could put in whatever Code provision changes they wanted to.

Commissioner Jabbour

thought even five dogs was too many for some people to handle and he questioned the requirement for photographs. He also wondered how this would be enforced as a commenter mentioned Title 6 was not being enforced now.

Commissioner Jabbour

then asked Mrs. Dellinger if the plan was to get more input from the public.

Mrs. Dellinger

said not at this time. A public hearing would be scheduled where public comment would be required. All of the comments made today would be discussed at another internal meeting with the District Attorney’s Office. She said there were some clarifications needed, and comments were also received from the Planning Department that needed to be reviewed.

Commissioner Jabbour

reminded those who could afford it to spay/neuter their pets.

Commissioner Jabbour

adjourned the meeting. APPROVED this L ;( day ATTEST: Of , 2024. I C aT Nye Cohty Clerk / Deputy