ATTENTION : Calvert County Horse Community, Proposed Animal Control Ordinances

[BZHorseMomE]

Attached is the link to the Calvert County Website that has all the items to be voted on in the next few weeks & will probably be passed. While many of these items have good intentions, if they are taken out of context, which so many of these ordinance can be, it will effect us all.

Who was the Equine representative that was on the panal?

Did anyone in the Equine Community attend the meeting this past week & if so what was discused?

Calvert County

The Board of County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on October 23, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at the Calvert Pines Senior Center to consider repeal and reenactment of Chapter 7, entitled "Animals," of the Code of Calvert County.
The revised Chapter to be considered is shown below. It contains some provisions that are shown in red italics. The provisions that are shown in red italics are not being considered for adoption at this time, as the Board of County Commissioners lacks to authority to enact them. The Board will give notice of and convene another public hearing to consider their adoption after it receives authority to enact them.
September 19, 2007
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ARTICLE III, Equine Facilities
§7-4-301. Requirements
A. The Maryland Horse Industry Board regulates the following establishments that perform any of the following activities:
(1) Horse riding and rental stables: Lets for hire one (1) or more horses or ponies to be ridden or driven.
(2) Boarding Stables: Stables five (5) or more horses or ponies and receives compensation for the services.
(3) Equine dealer, breeding stables, rescue stables: Sells or transfers five (5) or more horses or ponies each year.
(4) Sales barns: establishments where horses or ponies are sold.
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B. A person may not operate or maintain any of the facilities in paragraph A above without obtaining an operator’s license from the Maryland Horse Industry Board.
C. Applications for a license and enforcement of the Maryland Horse Industry Board regulations in paragraph A above shall be by the Maryland Horse Industry Board.
D. In addition to the regulations established by the Maryland Horse Industry Board, the owner, keeper or custodian of one or more equine and all equine facilities shall comply with these regulations.



Part 8, Shelter
ARTICLE I, Shelter for Animals other than Dogs
§7-8-101. Scope
A. When animals are not provided shelter inside a dwelling, proper shelter shall be provided. Examples of proper shelter include, but are not limited to: extended or separate structures from a dwelling (such as garages and sheds), outbuildings, barns, hutches, lean-to, run-in sheds, partially enclosed kennels and modified playhouses.
B. Animal enclosures that are not inside a dwelling are not proper shelter.
C. Except when an animal is temporarily confined during transport, a disaster or rescue, or while participating in a qualified activity, animal transport containers are not proper shelter.
§7-8-102. Shelter Requirements
Proper shelter for an animal other than a dog shall:
A. Have four (4) sides and a roof except shelter for equine shall have three (3) sides and a roof (also known as a run-in shed);
B. Provide each animal protection from the weather;
C. Be structurally sound and maintained in good repair; protecting the animal from injury;
D. Be appropriate and sufficient for the species, age, breed, type, quantity, and size of the animal;
E. Provide ample dry bedding, such as straw, hay, cedar chips or other material;
F. Provide interior space that allows each animal adequate freedom of movement. Freedom of movement shall be defined and measured by the ability of each animal to freely turn around while standing inside under the same conditions that would exist during normal use (as in the case of multiple animals);
G. Be clean and usable and free of:
(1) Fecal matter;
(2) Standing water;
(3) Sharp objects, trash and debris;
H. Be maintained to minimize health hazards and obnoxious odors.
§7-8-103. Violations
A violation of this Article is a Class A violations.
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[devinej]

oh geezzz by law we have to clean out the run in sheds? and bed them? haha and would this mean you have to get a liscense to sell your horse?

 

[natbugs]

they have tried to pass this kinda of stuff before. they had a public forum type meeting last week. they gave each person 2 min to talk...not near enough type to address all the issues in the ordinance.The farm board has already re writtten alot of the new changes.I do not believe it will pass the way it was written and even more importantly...who is going to inforce it?? last year when we siezed the 18 hughes horses animal control had been on that case for 5 months and thought it was ok...then when we were loading the horses they would not even get close to them. so who is going to train the animal control people and educate them too???I am pretty sure that farmer brown is not going to bring his hunting beagles in the house everynight!! Like I said this is not the first time they have tried to pass this kinda stuff and it never goes through.although there are a few points in the ordinace that were positive. alot of it is not even clear as to what they are calling livestock...at one point it says livestock is not animal....very vague....they also never even mention the department of Ag...which most of the state laws revole around their reccomended pratice....

 

[Sadielady]

Who determines what "obnoxious odors" are?