Pocahontas County Commission to be Asked to Amend the Dog Ordinance

We recently learned that the agenda for the September 17th Pocahontas County Commission meeting contains an item for them to be asked to amend the County Dog Ordinance, and noticed that the last Pocahontas Times contained a paid advertisement about this. To learn more about what this is all about, we interviewed Alice Arbuckle, the person who is scheduled to address the Commissioners about this.

Alice, I understand that you will be addressing the County Commission, and are on their meeting agenda for Tuesday, September 17th at 5:45 p.m., and you will be asking them to amend the current County dog ordinance, using the Kanawha County ordinance as a model. Can you elaborate on this?

“Yes, Tim; it is called the Kanawha County Animal Cruelty and Canine Tethering Ordinance” said Arbuckle. “I have been impressed to help the forlorn dogs of the County, especially with the cold weather around the corner. I am talking about the dogs you see tethered 24/7 in all kinds of weather with inadequate shelter. The Kanawha County Animal Cruelty and Canine Tethering Ordinance has seven sections to it. It goes into great detail.”

“My goal is to convince the County Commissioners to give this ordinance a good read; have a good discussion; and go from a human ordinance to a humane ordinance.”

“In my hikes around the Town of Hillsboro, I have seen many an example of innocent dogs chained to a barrel (with) no shade; usually surrounded by their own feces, overturned water dishes, or dirty water. My heart goes out to these dogs -not only in Hillsboro, but probably sprinkled throughout the County. And I am hoping this agenda item will bring people to the meeting to also bear witness to what they have personally seen, and to help me convince the Commissioners to use the Kanawha County ordinance as their model.”

In what way can the public help you with this?

“If you can make the meeting, you should be there by 5:30 to sign up for public input. It is possible for your voice to be heard through a letter addressed to the County Commissioners, 900 10th Ave., Marlinton, West Virginia, 24954. Administrative Assistant Sue Helton will make sure that letter reaches the Commissioners for this agenda item.”

Ok, and thank you. Is there anything else you would like to add?

“You can find my informational ad within this week’s Pocahontas Times.”

So, if you feel strongly on either side of this issue, you may wish to be at the September 17th Pocahontas County Commission meeting at the County Courthouse in Marlinton. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., but this agenda item is scheduled to be discussed at 5:45 p.m.

Story By

Tim Walker

Tim is the WVMR News Reporter. Tim is a native of Maryland who started coming to Pocahontas County in the 1970’s as a caver. He bought land on Droop Mountain off Jacox Road in 1976 and built a small house there in the early 80’s. While still working in Maryland, Tim spent much time at his place which is located on the Friars Hole Cave Preserve. Retiring in 2011 as a Lieutenant with the Anne Arundel County Police Department in Maryland, Tim finally took the plunge and moved from Maryland to his real home on Droop Mountain. He began working as the Pocahontas County Reporter for Allegheny Mountain Radio in January of 2015.

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