Two-dog limit in Burlington
Amy's story about a dog attack in Burlington points out that the city prohibits keeping more than two dogs on a property.
Here's the citation in city ordinances:
Sec. 5-19. Limit on number per owner.
No owner shall keep, maintain or harbor more than two (2) dogs twelve (12) weeks old, or older, within the corporate limits of the city at any time. It is the purpose of this section to prohibit the keeping of more than two (2) dogs of such age upon the premises of any property owner or tenant at any time, and the fact that ownership of more than two (2) such dogs is claimed or divided among two (2) or more owners shall not be construed to allow the keeping of more than two (2) dogs upon the same premises at any one time, it being the intent of this section that the keeping of more than two (2) dogs at any one location is unlawful and prohibited. The provisions of this section to the contrary notwithstanding it shall be lawful of a person to maintain a kennel within this city in conformity with the provisions of section 5-26.
Any violation of this section shall subject the offender to a civil penalty in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00). Any duly authorized local government official is authorized to issue this civil citation and the violator shall pay the penalty to the city tax collector's office within ten (10) days of receipt. The failure of such violator to pay the civil penalty within the specific time shall subject such violator to a civil action to collect all penalties and costs for such violation and any civil penalty that has not been paid which delinquent notice was sent shall carry an additional late payment penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Continued violation or continuing violations shall subject the violator to separate, distinct and successive civil penalties.
(Code 1959, § 3-11; Ord. No. 95-17, § 1, 5-16-95)
Is that overly restrictive? There's no such limit in High Point (or Greensboro). My next-door neighbor has three dogs, and they create absolutely no problems. You'd hardly know they were there.
On the other hand, a former across-the-street neighbor had eight to 10 dogs at one time. They made a helluva racket, and some of them occasionally ran loose. One, an aggressive Doberman male, finally was shot by a police officer. That wasn't necessarily a function of how many dogs he had, but of how responsible he was for controlling them.
I would not support a two-dog limit.
Comments (6)
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Of course this is a foolish law as written. Doubtlessly, it is used only to punish people with unruly dogs (without having to prove that they're unruly), but even as a tactical measure, it's the nanny state at its nanniest.
Posted on September 28, 2007 12:10 PM
It could also be used by an obnoxious neighbor who might turn in someone who has three dogs just out of spite.
Posted on September 28, 2007 12:14 PM
about a dog attack in Burlington points out that the city prohibits keeping more than two dogs on a property.
Here's the citation in city ordinances:* Doug
It appears that the Cat lobby in Burlington has got control over the Dog lobby? I can't wait until the Goat lobby pushes their political agenda in Burlington.
Posted on September 28, 2007 12:21 PM
How can people be so heartless...
Obviously these people have never spent a winter in Alaska. There's nights up here, no way your staying warm with any thing less than three dogs.
Posted on September 28, 2007 2:38 PM
'Round here, that will just get you fleas.
Posted on September 28, 2007 3:11 PM
There's nights up here, no way your staying warm with any thing less than three dogs.
'Round here, that will just get you fleas.* Doug
In western North Carolina a family would get into a war with other if the front porch on the trailer fell in with 3 Blue tick hounds being killed.
Posted on September 28, 2007 6:59 PM