Wicomico Co. Humane Society aims to update, tighten up Animal Control regulations
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Wednesday, Wicomico County Council will be reviewing a request from the county Wicomico County Humane Society (WCHS) to adjust animal control regulations.
Revisiting Regulations
WCHS is asking for the County to add or tighten up eleven regulations. “There are some much overdue changes that need to be made. Some codes really need to be tightened up so that our animal control officers can do their job a little more efficiently,” said Kimberly Nock, WCHS Executive Director and Head of Animal Control.
Nock says the regulations include disallowing animals to be left on abandoned property or in abandoned residence, and requiring proper bedding and shelter for animals left outside. Plus, WCHS wants to be able to spay or neuter dogs that get picked up by Animal Control at least twice in one year. That includes dogs deemed dangerous. “We’ve always just had that for the males. But, we’re looking to add it for females as well, and actually eliminate the part about them being in heat,” said Nock.
And for animals brought in as strays, WCHS is hoping to microchip each one. “We do that as a courtesy now, but we would like to make that completely mandatory if a dog gets picked up,” said Nock.
WCHS also wants to have more specific guidelines and regulations against nuisance barking. “We have the ability to issue citations, but we don’t have the ability to follow it through. So, when your neighbor’s dog is barking all night long, it’s an issue we really can’t correct other than writing citations,” said Nock.
Not Just Dogs
Nock says WCHS also has its eye on animals other than dogs. “Unfortunately, roosters are becoming a big problem. Everybody has roosters now. They’re in the residential areas, and people are allowed to have them. But, they’re disturbing the peace,” she said. “Having appropriate size for [farm] animals that are owned is something that has always just been covered in our zoning codes. But, we’re finding that it’s an issue that animal control would probably be better able to handle than a zoning officer.”
Working With Council
WCHS has been working with the County’s lawyer to draft the new rules. Nock says she’s confident Wicomico County Council will be receptive to the request, and are on animals’ side, too.
“We get a lot of phone calls. A lot of people just don’t understand the codes. They think that we have the powers to do things that we don’t have. Unfortunately, we have to follow the laws and the codes that are given. So, these are the kind of things that we’ve come up against,” said Nock. “We’re concentrating on the things that we’re pretty confident we can change, and that will make [Animal Control’s] job a little bit easier.”
