Public voices concerns, appreciation for new animal control ordinance
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By Pamela Permar-Shierling
The public hearing for Glynn County’s new animal control ordinance brought a full house to the Glynn County Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting last night (Aug. 20).
The key points in the new ordinance which brought so much discussion were the sections on tethering and licensing.
Prior to the public hearing Glynn County Animal Control Director Lori Austin addressed those two issues to the commission.
She explained the trolley system for tethering as much more humane than merely staking a dog outside in one spot. She also said local animal volunteer groups were willing to raise funds to help those who cannot afford the trolley system as well as help install the system.
There is no fee for licensing, she said. It can be done by e-mail or through the U.S. mail.
Her reasoning for the licensing animals is that many times Animal Control ends up with a dog with no information about health records or ownership.
“If the dog has bitten someone and we don’t know if it has had a rabies shot, most of the time doctors recommend the person who has been bitten get a series of rabies shots,” she said.
Those who spoke against the ordinance were only concerned about the licensing and tethering portions of the ordinance.
Dane Hutcheson, Commissioner elect for District 3, was not opposed to everything in the ordinance. He pointed out that the ordinance requirement to put a tag on a dog would be harmful to hunting or herding dogs.
“When a hunting or herding dog gets stuck on a fence or briar, they can pull out of their collar and get free and will end up with no identification,” Hutcheson said.
He also pointed out that Georgia law requires hunting dogs to wear identification.
Shelly Bydlinski, President No Kill Glynn, discussed the tethering portion of the ordinance. “I am not against this ordinance. I just think we need to tweak certain areas.”
There are no gray areas, she said. “I am concerned with the tethering. I am not opposed to tethering but the way it is written may cause more harm than good.”
“The way it is written means you can’t tie a dog to a lawn chair at the beach or stake a dog out at home for an hour. Many people stake their dogs outside for a few hours while at home or while working in the yard.”
“The way the ordinance is written prohibits any stationary points for tethering. Please deny this portion of the ordinance as written.”
Donna Maxwell said Glynn County should focus on low cost rabies shots and spay / neuter programs, not on licensing.
“If a dog receives a micro chip when the rabies shot is given, it won’t have to wear a collar at all times,” she said.
Linda Ganas told the BOC that her 14 year old dog is tied out daily when her family is home.
“What if someone sees him there and thinks he should not be there and reports it to Animal Control?”
Stephanie Schafer, President and Founder of Grateful Cats/Canines Allies & Supporters spoke in favor of the ordinance.
“This new ordinance moves us forward,” she said. “The current ordinance is inhumane. We need to make things better for animals in Glynn County.”
Scott Henley, a local dog trainer, spoke in favor of the ordinance while recognizing that tethering is not a reasonable long term solution for a dog.
“Temporary tethering is not inhumane but should never be permanent,” he said. When a dog is tethered long term, it develops behavior problems.
Amy Buchan spoke in favor of the ordinance saying it gives the county to make people more accountable for their pets.
Vicki Greene, also in favor of the ordinance, commented there was no excuse for not spaying or neutering and micro chipping a hunting dog.
“Many of these dogs are dumped at the end of the season or when they can no longer hunt. They need to be micro chipped.”
She also said backyard breeders needed to be held accountable and spay and neuter their animals.
District 1 Commissioner Sammy Tostensen said the ordinance needed tweaking. “Not everyone wants to spay or neuter their dog or cat.”
He suggested a work session to take more public input.
Bob Duncan (District 2) wanted to pass the ordinance then tweak it. “The new ordinance is far better than what we currently have. Let’s pass it and then make changes,” he said.
BOC Chairman Wayne Neal (District 3) suggested a group of four or five citizens work with staff to tweak the new ordinance.
Austin said her staff is working on a grommet tag for a collar but reminded the BOC that the current ordinance requires a tag on an animal that is off its property.
Tostensen made a motion to defer the ordinance until the first meeting in October. He noted that no public comment on the ordinance would be taken at that meeting and asked the public to get their input to the animal control staff.
The vote to defer was six to one with Duncan voting against.
Click here to read the proposed animal control ordinance.
https://content.glynncounty.org/sites/default/files/2026-08/0-Animal%20Control%20Ordinance%20Final%20with%20Cover%208-12-2026.pdf
