Jackass of the Day Award, Wed, April 16 (Update Available)
Please see update in Comments Section.
I have decided to give today’s award to a whole group of people. A group of Country Commissioners that is. Read the excerpted article below to find out why:
County: Dad Caring For Deployed Son’s 2 Pets Has Too Many Dogs
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 07:15 PM
By Steve SbracciaExcerpt:
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Henry Carroll got into trouble with the county when he agreed to look after his son’s two dogs.
And it’s turning into a dog war.
Carroll got into trouble with the county when he agreed to look after his son Adam’s two dogs. Carroll’s son is overseas fighting in Iraq.
The soldier is scheduled to return home in December, and his father says he is determined to make sure that when his son returns from his tour of duty, the dogs are waiting for him.
Carroll already had three dogs of his own. With five dogs, the county said he had two dogs too many.
“If my son’s in Iraq, I can’t watch his dogs according to the county,” Carroll said.
The county says with five dogs Henry’s running a kennel, which he is not licensed to do. When he asked the county to clarify the definition of a kennel, he says he got several different answers.
Carroll got the Army to write a letter saying two of the dogs belonged to his son, but county officials didn’t buy it.
They said, “Since Adam didn’t sign it, it really might not be valid because it was signed by his platoon leader.”
First of all the jackass part comes from the very notion that the County is telling people how many pets they are allowed to have. Instead of prosecuting people who run puppy mills and who treat animals inhumanely now they are just punishing everyone. Isn’t that special? The main thing that sealed the deal on my decision for the award is the simple fact that this is a military town for crying out loud. Here’s my advice to the County authorities who are making this man’s life hell right now… Take your Jackass Award to the pawn shop, get 10 cents for it and buy yourself a clue with it. There is a little something called “critical thought” that really helps people figure out when a situation merits an alternate approach. It’s a beautiful thing. Embrace it.
here’s an update on the story…. the county has backed off the for time being….
By Steve Sbraccia
General Assignment Reporter
WNCN-TV
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.— A Fayetteville man who wanted his day in court so that he could keep five dogs in his house, including two that belong to his son who is fighting in Iraq, didn’t get a chance to plead his case. But he didn’t lose his dogs either.
Henry Carroll went face-to-face with Cumberland County and the county blinked.
Before he ever got a chance to utter a word at a public hearing Thursday night, county officials said they’d need more time to research the situation.
As a result, the county said no dogs will be removed from his premises for the time being.
County officials decided to defer action after the county attorney said he’d need more time to clarify issues between several county agencies.
“I didn’t expect that,” said a stunned Carroll.
The ordinance limiting dog ownership to three animals has been on Cumberland County’s books since 1972, but a shelter operator who was one of a number of people who came to support Carroll said that law’s no good.
“It’s a badly written law and similar laws have been held unconstitutional in many other states,” said Linden Spear, director of “The Haven” animal shelter. “We hope the county realizes it’s a badly written nuisance law and repeals it immediately.”
The controversy started when Carroll’s son, Adam asked his dad to watch his two dogs while he was deployed overseas in Iraq with the 101st Airborne. Henry Carroll’s landlord said that he had no problem with that.
“He asked me if he could do it when he found out his son was going overseas,” said Mike Urian. “At the time I didn’t see any violation. I didn’t think the county ordinance would count possession as a violation. I thought ownership would be a violation.”
So for now, Carroll goes about caring for the dogs and waits for his next public hearing.
“I’m relieved.,’’ he admitted. “The burden ain’t lifted yet, but I got more time to prepare for it now.”
TALK BACK TO STEVE ON HIS BLOG AT: http://blogs.wncn.info/betweenthelines
Oh, don’t even get me started. Five dawgs huh? I guess the “farmers” or “cattlemen” can only have four cows, pigs, goats, sheep? And the lady who lives next door can only have four birds or cats? The couple on the otherside can only have four kids? Is this America? Good grief.
I hear ya Jimbo. I have to wonder if this means that a family who has more than 3 children will have to apply for a permit to run a daycare center in their home. It starts small and the more comfortable we are with the government dictating the small things, then the more complacent we become in the bigger things.
Thank you Steve! I will post the update.