Tony London
All three Bartholomew County commissioners are now on record that they will not consider changing current animal control ordinances nor reinstating a county animal control board.
Commissioners’ Chairman Tony London has now publicly announced he’s siding with fellow commissioners Larry Kleinhenz and Carl Lienhoop on the issue. While that surprised a few people, London’s position will not stop an animal advocacy group from putting pressure on the commissioners to change their minds.
That’s according to Nancy Ray, the longest-serving member of the Change 4 Bartholomew County animal advocacy group. Members of her organization will continue to maintain a presence at the commissioners’ weekly public meeting.
“This does not stop us,’ Ray said. “This is not going to slow us down. We are going to still have the same mission.”
While keeping current animal control ordinances is nothing new for Kleinhenz and Lienhoop, Ray says she was taken back a bit that London joined their side.
“Tony has often said it’s Larry and Carl who don’t not want the ordinance updated,” Ray said. “Tony has always made the statement that ‘I am only one of three.’ We took that as an indication he would be interested in updating the ordinances. But (March 20) was the first time that I have ever heard Tony include himself.”
During that commissioners’ meeting, animal advocate Angela Savage reminded London of a statement he made shortly before the late December Arctic freeze and snow storms. As Savage recalled, London said it’s against the law in Bartholomew County to deprive pets of basic needs, and while it is rare for abuse to happen, it never hurts to post a reminder so preparations can be made.
After a discussion that mostly concerned a dog hung from a tree and shot multiple times near Hartsville, animal advocate Saundra Bush brought up the subject of a 10-year-old Rottweiler in western Bartholomew County that she claims has gone several days without water, food or proper shelter.
Bush also said 18 calls were made to authorities over 19 months out of concern for the dog’s welfare.
“18 calls?” Bush exclaimed. “Oh, c’mon, I think that speaks volumes.”
“The calls can be grossly overemphasized,” Kleinhenz said. “A majority of those calls were probably from one or two individuals.”
One audience member who did not identify herself admitted she made most of the calls. However, the woman felt justified because she was convinced the dog was being dangerously mistreated.
When London suggested the matter of this dog be turned over to the county prosecutor, county attorney Grant Tucker said he doesn’t believe Lindsey Holden-Kay’s office would consider the act to be criminal.
“They make the call,” Tucker told the animal advocates. “What do you propose we do? Take the dog? Is that what happens?
Bush essentially said the commissioners should adopt the same animal welfare ordinances approved by the city of Columbus last year, as well as reinstate the Bartholomew County Animal Control Board.
Before it was dissolved in late 1998, the board acted as a liaison between the citizens, county animal control officers and the commissioners. According to published accounts, it was intended to “provide private citizen representation as a forum to ensure the equitable enforcement of animal control regulations.”
However, final decisions always had to be approved by the elected county commissioners, who felt the board’s involvement only created delays in important decisions, Ray said.
For several minutes, London allowed every person present to speak their minds before he expressed his own thoughts.
“The things you are talking about are currently against the law,” London told the animal advocates. “Having said that, the commissioners will not consider changing our ordinances, and the commissioners will not be considering reinstating the animal control commission.”
London said the commissioners are satisfied with state and local laws already in place, adding different people have different opinions regarding how animals should be housed and treated. The chairman said he personally keeps his pet inside, allowing him to be pampered.
“That is how I take care of my dog, but some people don’t see animals that way,” London said. “The state considers animals property. One person’s opinion is different from another person’s opinion. We are not interested in penalizing people who take good care of their animals, but we might have a difference of opinion about what good care is.“
After London spoke, both sides resumed expressing their positions until London used his position as chairman to end the discussion.
While the commissioners are often criticized in social media for emphasizing animal control over animal welfare, they did give the Bartholomew County Humane Society an 89% increase in funding this year. In addition, the commissioners recently approved restrictions on large-scale dog breeding kennels, as well as approved trap and release programs for feral cats.
