This week, Carroll County Commission Chairman Marty Smith said county officials will continue to discuss a proposed ordinance aimed at protecting outside animals from extreme cold and heat, as well as disallowing pet owners from chaining their animal to a stationary object. Smith admitted that the county has some concerns with the wording of the proposal presented by the Carroll County Humane Society in 2018. He added, that the county plans to discuss the proposed ordinance with municipalities and agree upon what is enforceable.

“What we want to do is approach the municipalities and get them to put into place a model ordinance and let each of them do it to where we are all on the same page. Our service delivery does require us to answer calls and do for each municipality. We do need to universally come up with something. We are going to reproach and let municipalities do it and then follow suit county wide. So we are all working on the same page,” commented Smith.

A recent change in leadership for Carroll County Animal Control may have delayed analyzing the proposed ordinance.