The TRUTH about this “Proposed Onslow County Animal Control Ordinance” 
(recognizing the TRUTH from animal rights fiction) 

This is a letter the Jacksonville NC Kennel Club is sending/has sent to various organizations in the county about the ramifications of this ordinance if it passes.  Read for yourself and understand the damaging impact an animal rights agenda will have upon Onslow County. 

“Dear:

     The Jacksonville NC Kennel Club, Inc. (JNCKC) wants to make you aware of a Proposed Draft of a new Onslow County Animal Ordinance. This proposed ordinance would have detrimental ramifications for responsible dog breeders, people who show dogs in performance and conformation events, to hunters and to people who are on limited incomes like the disabled and the elderly. 

Proposed changes: 

·         Charging a fee when a person, for whatever reason, cannot keep a pet.  (This will lead to a substantial increase in pets being left on the side of the road vs. having people try to be responsible and taking their pet to the animal shelter.) 

·         Hunters:   Mandatory Microchipping/tattooing for ALL hunting dogs and ALL hunting dogs must be registered with Onslow County Animal Services.  (Many hunters cannot afford to do either one, and they believe a good, thick collar will suffice for the dog and the hunter.) 

·         Mandatory Licensing of ALL cats and ALL dogs.  The proposed draft states the county license will be tied into the rabies vaccination.  (This would make vets mandated to supply the licenses and fill out paperwork.  This leads to a possible substantial increase for rabies licenses and veterinary fees due to the additional paperwork requirements and time in completing the paperwork.) 

·         Differential licensing.  Within the mandatory licensing, there will be what is referred to as differential licensing.   This is a separate and possibly substantially higher price license for those, who, for whatever reason, do Not have a pet spayed or neutered.  (We are positive you realize the consequences of this outlandish action.  This would be discrimination against responsible pet breeders, people who show dogs in performance and conformation events, hunters, and to the people who love their pets, care for them, but cannot afford the high fees to spay or neuter their pets.  These are people like the elderly, disabled and lower income people in Onslow County.  Statistics have shown, Responsible people do NOT NEED such restrictive ordinances forced on them.  The irresponsible individuals who do not/will not comply with the adequate animal ordinance now, will NOT in all likely-hood comply with a possible new ordinance such as this.  This proposal will be trying to Force individuals to spay/neuter pets. ) 

·         The definition of a puppy is only up to 4 months of age.  After 4 months, the proposal demands that these puppies be considered adults.  (Veterinarians, those involved in animal husbandry, those who hunt and those who show dogs can tell you a puppy is a puppy until 1 (ONE) year- old.  )

·         Hunters will be Required to pay a special permit, in addition to mandatory identification and mandatory registration of all their hunting dogs with Onslow County Animal Services. 

·         Prohibition of the sale of animals on a street, highway or parking lot, and if one does sell animals this way, they are subject to substantial fines.  (Why?  This is NOT as common as this proposal would lead one to believe.  Additionally, many people have been seen selling animals, and those animals have had access to shelter, food, water and plenty of human attention.  So, by enforcing this part, there could be an increase in animals left either at the animal shelter, for those who will be able to afford the drop off fee, or an increase in strays.) 

·         This proposed draft would outlaw “performing animal exhibition.”  “Unnatural behavior…….displayed in such a way that the animal is abused”.   This would be for public and private facilities.  (This could mean a prohibition against circuses.  It could be a prohibition against Frisbee events for dogs.  It could mean outlawing Earthdog tests in which terriers and dachshunds go underground to hunt for a badger.  While the badger is Always protected (caged), this ordinance could “protect” the badger. The zoo in our area could be forced to shut down because it is “unnatural”.  Unnatural could be considered abuse. This type of proposal has been seen in other areas with such outcomes.) 

·         This would Forbid the sale of ANY animal for “animal experimentation.”  (It does not matter if it is a rat or cockroaches.  Why?  Many animals have saved humans and even other animals lives.  For example:  There are animal genetic tests which need animals to aid in the discovery of cures for disease which will benefit both animals and humans.  ) 

·         There is an entire section dedicated to “puppy mills.”  This is a term we detest and try not to use.  There is NO, Absolutely NO, LEGAL definition of a “puppy mill.”  (This term has NO business being in a legal document.  WE call these breeders “substandard breeders.”   This section has a lot of inaccurate information, and a source is given for some of the misinformation quoted in the draft.  This has nothing to do with a professional, legal ordinance and should NOT be in it.  This term is subjective, open to interpretation and ANY breeder, at ANY time, could be called this term by ANYONE.  While the draft does say it is for “commercial breeders”, too often we have seen this term applied to private breeders, whether they have 7 to 10 dogs or 50-100 dogs.  Numbers are arbitrary. Additionally, there are very, very few commercial breeders in Onslow County. )  

·          “High Volume Dog Breeder” and “High Volume Dog Retailer” sections are in this proposed draft.  These are arbitrary numbers with absolutely No scientific basis in that for the breeder it states that “a person has to maintain more than 7 intact female in a year…..” .  For the retailer it says that “ person who sells, resells or transfers ownership of more than 50 dogs per year……”  Both must obtain a permit, at no cost, from the Onslow County Animal Services.  BUT, both “high volume groups” are to hold themselves open to MANDATORY annual inspections by Onslow County Animal Services.  (Nobody within animal control has experience in animal husbandry, and within it, the specific breed types.  Very few veterinarians have that type of experience, too.  Thus, animal control persons do Not comprehend the medical, physical, social or mental needs of specific breeds.  EACH breed is different.  What will happen is a one-type-fit-all mentality will be established, and these groups will be expected to follow that regime.  Animal control individuals cannot know it all on nutrition, behavioral training, and veterinary care on each individual breed.  Thus, this could be an end to many responsible breeders in Onslow County.  AND, this does not cover those that show in performance and conformation events and hunt.  Many individuals can own more than 7 intact females, but NOT breed them.  Many can transfer, sell and resell more than 50 dogs, but that does not mean they are using them for breeding.  Thus, this is very dangerous section which could harm so many who are caring for and improving breeds.) 

·         Animal Control Advisory Board:  Who is on it?  Why are there not specific seats for hunters and dog breeders?  (By NOT having individuals like these on the board, this group becomes one-sided, and it does NOT take into consideration all the people of Onslow County.  Opens itself up to possible law suits.) 

·        Dangerous Dog Board.  Who is on it?  Why are there not specific seats for those who are knowledgeable about breeds who many consider dangerous and who have personal experience with them?  These individuals can train others.  (Veterinarians do not have this knowledge base, unless they own one of these breeds and have worked with them.)

·         Animal Control Investigator?  Why?  As this proposal states, this investigator can call on the animal control officers at any time for help.  So, why have this person?   (Animal Control Officers can do that job, and in fact, that is what they are trained to do.    It is a waste of Onslow County Taxpayers’ money to have a separate individual hired just for investigation. )

·         Civil Penalties for not paying an animal control fine.  Fines can be high and additionally, there will be delinquency fees if a fee is not paid within 10 days.  (This is, again, discrimination against the very segments of our county who can ill afford all these fees and fines in the first place.) 

Finally, a word about “Big Brother watching” and the book,  1984, by George Orwell.  All these fees and changes will be monitored by the Onslow County Animal Control Services.  Every rabies vaccination, every hunting dog, mandatory licensing, all monitored by a “Big Brother.”  If we do not get rabies vaccination for a pet, for whatever reason, if we do not renew the Annual pet license, big brother will know.  If a hunter does not register a hunting dog or pay a yearly permit to hunt, big brother will know. Monitoring just like in the book, 1984.   Can you imagine an elderly woman being fined and fined more because she could NOT AFFORD to pay for a pet license and therefore, could not get her pet a rabies shot?  Can you see a disabled veteran, who has a dog to help him through the moments of PTSD, but the dog is NOT a certified therapy dog because there is no need, for one reason or another, being fined and fined more because he could not Afford the higher vet fees because of the costs of tying in a rabies and pet licensing fee?  Can you see hunters decreasing their hunting because they cannot afford the mandatory identification and mandatory permits and mandatory registration of ALL hunting dogs?   An end to hunting as we know it?  An end to responsible pet breeding ?  An end to pet ownership for many people, especially those who would not be able to afford to own a pet because of the additional costs? The only section benefiting with this proposed draft is Onslow County Animal Control Services.  Contrary to what many believe, THERE IS NOT A PET OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM!  There IS an OWNER RETENTION problem, and this proposed draft only PENALIZES those who are already responsible. All of this has occurred in other cities and counties with disastrous results for humans, especially, and for their pets, and we have the proof to back up our statements (you can contact us – the Jacksonville Kennel Club – for more information). 

Thank you for reading .  If you wish a copy of the ordinance, please contact Onslow County Animal Control.  Under the Freedom of Information act, they are mandated to supply a copy of it to anyone who requests one. 

Sincerely,  “

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