Loose pooches no longer allowed in back of trucks

Beginning next week driving around with Rover loose in the bed of your pick-up will get you a ticket in unincorporated areas of Walton County, due to a newly passed animal control ordinance.

Starting Aug. 1 animals riding in open bed vehicles have to be confined in a carrier or restrained by a minimum of two tethers attached to the vehicle and the collar of the animal.

It will also be unlawful to transport these animals in the bed of a pick-up truck when the temperatures are above 90 degrees or below 40 degrees. In addition, leaving them inside an enclosed vehicle trunk or unattended in an enclosed vehicle without proper climate control or ventilation will also be prohibited.

"We've had a few animals getting heat distress from owners leaving them in the back of trucks without any water," said Lois Marlow, supervisor of Walton County animal control.

The changes are part of the new animal control ordinance which will affect unincorporated Walton County; this excludes cities such as DeFuniak Springs, Freeport and Paxton.

The ordinance, which was passed on July 8 by county commissioners, is more definitive regarding nuisance animals, pet dealers, fees and penalties related to impounded cats and dogs and pet owner violations, according to Ed Baltzley, emergency response director for Walton County's animal control operations.

"The biggest thing is improvements in enforcement," said Baltzley.

The new ordinance now places the entire county under its jurisdiction when previously separate rules regulated the northern and southern parts of the county.

It also clarifies the definition of nuisance animals and enforcement. Now, any animal which causes objectionable noises when unprovoked "habitually and continuously" for a period of 10 minutes or more, or for two or more repeated periods of  five minutes or more will be considered a nuisance animal.

Additionally, law enforcement officers are no longer required to be present to establish probable cause of a nuisance animal. Instead, they will now be allowed to take statements from witnesses to establish cause.

The new ordinance will also include a definition for pet dealer, which was previously unmentioned, according to Bill Bard, chairperson of the Walton County animal control advisory commission. "It's not enhancing the definition but just brings up the fact that pet dealers fall under Florida statues."

Pet dealer is now defined as any party involved in the sale of two litters or 20 dogs or cats per year in their ordinary course of business.

Even though the new ordinance clarifies definitions and expands enforcement, Bard does not feel it will solve the problem of pet over population facing Walton County.

"I think that our policies and programs should be along an education line," said Bard. "We need some policies and cooperation with the county, rescue groups and spay and neuter programs. Spay and neuter is the key to solving our problem with over population."