GA-Forsyth County Bans Dog Chaining

[Vicki]

Forsyth County is banning the chaining of dogs as a primary method of restraint, but giving residents leeway to keep using tethering on a temporary basis. On a 3-2 vote Thursday night, commissioners passed the controversial anti-chaining amendment. Commissioners dropped provisions that would have limited tethering for three or more hours and would have required owners to provide an enclosed structure with four sides, a floor and roof as shelter. “I don’t want to see anyone get arrested because their dog is completely protected in a carport or porch,†Commissioner Brian Tam said. Cumming resident and businessman Paul Romanick called the amendment a “huge step forward.†Laura Berrios

http://www.ajc.com/news/forsyth-county-bans-dog-112909.html

 

[Vicki]

Fulton, Forsyth ban chaining your dog

August 11, 2009 at 3:29 pm by Scott Henry in News

An Atlanta councilmember once told me the quickest way to determine whether a neighborhood could be considered scuzzy and low-rent is to drive around and see how many dogs are chained up in front yards.

Well, soon, we may need a different rule of thumb.

Today’s AJC has an article about a recent decision by the Forsyth County Commission to limit the chaining of dogs. According to the new rules, which were approved on a close 3-2 vote, dogs can be tethered on a temporary basis, but can’t be left outside on a chain permanently.

Fulton County, however, passed an even stronger ordinance back in March, although it won’t go into effect until next month. The delay, it seems, was to give dog owners time to build a fence or housetrain their beasts. Beginning Sept. 4, dogs cannot be chained or tethered to a fixed object unless held by an attendant or by the owner. That doesn’t leave much wiggle room. It should be noted that the Fulton ordinance enjoyed unanimous support from commissioners.

Here’s a bit of pro-canine propaganda from Commissioner Robb Pitts, who sponsored the ordinance:

The Humane Society warns that tethering is dangerous to dogs because they become targets for other animals, humans and biting insects. Tethers can become entangled with other objects, which can choke or strangle dogs. Tethers can also cause dogs necks to become raw and covered with sores because of poorly fitted collars along with the animal straining against the collar in constant attempts to escape Collars can also become embedded in a dog’s neck without proper care and fitting.
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The anti-chain movement has been gathering steam across the country, thanks to the aforementioned Humane Society, PETA and advocacy groups represented by such websites as unchainyourdog.org and dogsdeservebetter.org.

For more information and to read the entire ordinance, check with Fulton County Animal Services, which is now administered by the Barking Hound Village Foundation.

Fulton, Forsyth ban chaining your dog | Fresh Loaf