Spartanburg County Council to work with shelter on number of days strays are kept
Spartanburg County Council on Monday evening took the first step in changing the number of days the county keeps stray animals to comply with state law.
Council members voted unanimously to give first reading to an ordinance amending the period dogs and cats are held before being euthanized.
The change will require two additional readings before becoming official, although the Spartanburg Humane Society already has implemented a longer hold period.
For years, the Humane Society had held stray animals for only three days in contradiction of the state law that requires shelters or humane societies to keep dogs and cats for five days before being euthanized.
County administration has said a county ordinance adopted in 1996 allowed the Humane Society to euthanize animals after three days. But in 2000, a change in the state law required counties and municipalities to hold animals for at least five days.
Councilman David Britt said the policy change, which was implemented by the Humane Society earlier this month, will create challenges that the county must address.
"I think we're at a crossroads with the Humane Society with the demands that it's going to impose on them, and the cost," he said.
At Monday's meeting, council Chairman Jeff Horton authorized the creation of an ad hoc committee to work with the Humane Society on the issues the longer hold period will create. Councilmen Michael Brown, Dale Culbreth and O'Neal Mintz will serve on the committee.
Councilwoman Jane Hall noted that two previous ad hoc committees created by council to work with the Humane Society on various challenges were not successful in dealing with the issues.
