Southwick Animal Control Officer Tracy Root holds a homeless cat at the present animal shelter. A town meeting vote passed to accept a new animal shelter, which was donated by Robert and Barbara Polverari, that will be built in the rear of the Southwick police station A large play area will be donated by the Granfield family. The shelter will also include an adoption room. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – A new code for the town regarding animals was adopted by Town Meeting this week, which brings the town in compliance with state laws adopted in October of 2012.
Animal Control officer Tracy Root said she was happy with the vote and was in “total agreement” with the new laws.
“It updates all the definitions,” she said. “For example, we were always called ‘The Dog Catcher’ and now we’re officially Animal Control Officers.”
Other changes to definitions included the wording of a dangerous dog, livestock, and nuisance dog.
One of the biggest changes was a new tethering law that stated “No person owning or keeping a dog shall chain or tether a dog to a stationary object including, but not limited to, a structure, dog house, pole or tree for longer than 24 consecutive hours. A tethering employed shall not allow the dog to leave the owner’s, guardian’s or keeper’s property. The tether shall be designed for dogs and no logging chains or other lines or devices not designed for tethering dogs shall be used. No chain or tether shall weigh more than of the dog’s body weight. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person from walking a dog on a hand-held leash. No dog under the age of 6 months shall be tethered outside for any length of time.”
Root said the law also calls for any dog kept outside to be on a run or in an appropriate pen, or in a fenced yard.
“A person owning or keeping a dog confined outside in accordance with subsection (b) shall provide the dog with access to clean water and appropriate dog shelter. The dog shelter shall allow the dog to remain dry and protected from the elements and shall be fully enclosed on at least 3 sides, roofed and have a solid floor. The entrance to the shelter shall be flexible to allow the dog’s entry and exit, and sturdy enough to block entry of weather elements. The shelter shall contain clean bedding and shall be small enough to retain the dog’s body heat and large enough to allow the dog to stand, lie down and turn comfortably. The enclosure shall be structurally sound and in good repair. Suitable drainage shall be provided so that water, ice or waste is not standing in or around the shelter,” further stated the law.
Root said the tethering law is a good one.
“These new laws are beneficial to animals and people,” she said.
Other changes were made to fees. Right now, Root said the town’s fees are all lower than what is allowed by the state and will remain intact with the exception of the administrative fee and boarding fee, which she said did not previously cover costs.
“We were undercharging,” she said. “As long as the towns adhere to, and are in agreement, with what the state says we can have for our bylaws and fees. (The law) didn’t used to state that, and now it does.”
Town Meeting voters also approved a donation for a new animal facility. Root said she was excited to move forward on the much-needed space.
“I am excited,” she said. I want to start getting the things we need.”
The donation came from Robert and Barbara Polverari for a completed facility with a large play area donated by the Granfield family. The family of a Southwick girl killed in an accident earlier this year also donated funds for the new facility’s adoption room.
‘This whole building will be dedicated,” said Root. “Bob and Barbara just floored me with their generosity and people have been telling me to tell them what we need and they will get it.”
A Bay Path College graduate organized a recent walk/run to benefit the Southwick Animal Control facility and Root has green rubber bracelets that bear the name of the shelter for sale for $1 each at the facility.
“All proceeds go back to the shelter,” she said.
The complete animal code is available on the town web site under the May 21 Town Meeting link.
