County sets rules for rattlesnake-avoidance trainings

Dog owners are one step closer to being able to send their pets to rattlesnake-avoidance training after county supervisors approved the first reading of new ordinance changes Wednesday.

The county’s currently forbids owning venomous reptiles in the unincorporated areas of the county, meaning the training is also prohibited.

rattlesnake.WEB.The new ordinance would exempt the businesses providing the trainings from prohibition as long as they are a registered California corporation, sole proprietorship or partnership in good standing and have commercial general liability insurance of at least $1 million.

The business will also be required to provide proof of compliance with the new ordinance to any animal control officer or law enforcement official upon request.

Supervisors Jacob and Horn brought the original idea to the board for consideration after businesses and pet owners said they wanted this kind of training to be available in the county.

The motion was approved 4-1 with Supervisors Ron Roberts, Greg Cox, Bill Horn, and Dianne Jacob voting in favor and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price opposed.

The second reading of the ordinance change will be on Dec. 4, and, if approved, would go into effect on Jan. 3, 2013.