Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 12, 1993                   TAG: 9306120048
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

CHANGES IN LAW WOULD AFFECT LOTS OF CRITTERS, BIG AND SMALL

Other proposed changes would affect the owners of large animals that escape their pens or pastures and horse and pony owners who keep their animals on small lots.

The supervisors will decide whether to advertise changes in the animal-control law for a public hearing on July 26.

The need to change the ordinance that forbids all dogs from running at large was discussed at the board's May 24 meeting.

Chief Animal Control Officer Kelly Walters - himself a hunting-dog owner - told the supervisors he gets complaints regularly from hunters because they are not allowed to exercise their dogs.

Walters suggested the county adopt an ordinance similar to the one used by Prince William County in Northern Virginia's hunt country: It allows dogs to run free for training, exercise or a lawful hunt.

The ordinance proposed for the public hearing would prohibit dogs running at large unless they're participating in a supervised obedience class or show, formally sanctioned field trials or a lawful hunt when accompanied by their owners.

Another proposed change in the ordinance would allow the animal-control officer to pick up large animals that are found running at large and to charge their owners an impoundment fee.

Finally, the supervisors will consider asking the Planning Commission to study changing the zoning ordinance to require people who keep horses or ponies to have at least two acres for the first animal and one additional acre for each additional animal. The county has received several complaints about people who keep horses on allegedly insufficient land.

The board also will:

Consider a request for nearly $5,000 to help pay for a study of the New River Valley's human services needs to be coordinated by the United Way. All jurisdictions and United Way organizations are being asked to contribute matching funds for a grant to pay for the study.

Formally appropriate its $66.9 million budget for the 1993-94 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Be asked to approve the signing of a $27,000 contract between the county and the architectural firm of Fitts, Lazaron & Associates for phase I planning of the new Blacksburg Area Branch Library.

Consider a grant application by Virginia Mountain Housing Inc. for the planning of a low- and moderate-income housing project on 30 acres on Merrimac Road.