More Anti-Chaining Ordinances for 2008

[lakotasong]

The mayor of Blakely proposed the ordinance after a dog fighting organization was shut down, and the Mayor observed that the dogs had been living chained to heavy logging chains. The Mayor said in an interview that he thought the chaining seemed cruel. Additionally, banning chaining may deter dog fighters from doing business in Blakely in the future.

The Bibb County Commission in middle Georgia has moved the proposed ordinance to its Ordinance and Resolution Committee for review. The county seat of Macon, GA adopted a no-chaining ordinance last month.

Georgia is making great strides this year (see earlier posting of Macon), with the latest addition being Blakely:

Chaining or tying dogs is no longer an option for city residents. The Blakely City Council voted at its March 4 meeting to adopt a change in the city's animal control ordinance that prohibits tethering dogs and requires owners to provide a pen or fenced yard instead.

In addition, the ordinance requires that owners prevent their animals from becoming nuisances to others and that when not secured in a pen or fenced yard, dogs must be on a leash held by an able-bodied person.
Citizens will have 60 days to comply with the ordinance change before citations will be issued.

The council voted to approve a request to rezone the property known as 11401 Columbia Road from R2 to Commercial. The property, situated east of Dairy Queen, is being proposed as the site for a Piggly Wiggly grocery store.
A request by Fire Chief Kenneth Jones to apply for a firefighter's assistance grant was approved. Jones said the grant request was for a new $300,000 fire truck to replace the city's 1975 model truck. The city's cost match is 5 percent or $15,000.

The council voted to accept the low bid of $20,140 by Hattaway Ford for a new truck for the water and sewer department and to approve Commercial State Bank as the low bid for a tax anticipation note at 3.9 percent.
The council approved a request to change the software used by city hall and adopted a franchise fee ordinance.

In other business, it was announced that city hall employees were putting together a Relay for Life team and that Paul Simonton was continuing as engineer on the city's waste water upgrade.

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The entire state of South Caroline is also taking strides to help chained dogs. SB 833 has passed Senate with quite a few changes, creating mixed emotions for animal advocates and citizens fighting against the horrendous treatment of backyard dogs. Some changes allow a dog to be chained during agricultural business, hunting and as a found stray. However, at least they're taking steps in the right direction by restricting chaining!

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 47-1-45 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE TETHERING, FASTENING, CHAINING, TYING, OR RESTRAINING A DOG TO A STATIONARY OBJECT FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS A DAY OR FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS A DAY ON A TROLLEY SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE CLASS I MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY ORDINANCE TO VARY THESE REGULATIONS.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION

1. Chapter 1, Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 47-1-45.

(A) It is unlawful to tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog, or cause such restraining of a dog, to a tree, fence, post, dog house, or other stationary object for more than three hours in a twenty-four-hour period. During periods of tethering that are not unlawful under this subsection, any tethering device used must be at least fifteen feet in length and attached in such manner as to prevent strangulation or other injury to the dog and entanglement with objects other than the stationary objects to which the device is attached.

(B) It is unlawful to tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog, or cause such restraining of a dog, to a cable trolley system, that allows movement of the restraining device, for more than six hours in a twenty-four-hour period. During periods of tethering that are not unlawful under this subsection, the length of the cable along which the tethering device can move must be at least ten feet, and the tethering device must be of such length that the dog is able to move ten feet away from the cable perpendicularly.

(C) It is unlawful to attach a chain or wire or other tethering device to, or cause such attachment to, a choke-type or pronged collar on a dog.

(D) It is unlawful to attach a chain or wire or other tethering device to a dog in such manner that does not allow the dog access to water and shelter.

(E) A person who knowingly or intentionally violates subsection (A), (B),

(C), or (D) is guilty of a misdemeanor and must be punished in the manner prescribed in Section 47-1-40(A).

(F) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (C) and (D), a person may, subject to the provisions of subsections (C) and (D) of this section:

(1) tether and restrain a dog while actively engaged in:

(a) use of the dog in shepherding or herding livestock;

(b) use of the dog in the business of cultivating agricultural products, if the restraining is reasonably necessary for the safety of the dog; or

(c) use of the dog in lawful hunting activities if the restraint is reasonably necessary for the safety of the dog.

(2) after taking possession of a dog that appears to be a stray dog and after having advised animal control authorities of the capture of the dog, tether and restrain the dog during such time as the person having taken possession of the dog is seeking the identity of the owner of the dog;

(3) walk a dog with a handheld leash.

(G) A county, city, or town may by ordinance:

(1) reduce the time of permissible tethering provided in subsections (B) and (C) of this section, including a prohibition on tethering;

(2) increase the permitted time for tethering on a rope or chain provided in subsection (B) from three to as many as nine hours;

(3) increase the permitted time for tethering on a pulley system provided in subsection (C) from six to as many as twelve hours in any twenty-four-hour period."

SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.

source

[bluedawg]

Still pushing an agenda that will hurt all dog owners, accept for the wealthy and privileged.

[lakotasong]

No, I'm supporting policies that will help dogs.

[bluedawg]

No you are hurting pet owners and there pets.

[calgal]

My concern would be the Pit Bulls used for fighting. If they are not chained will they climb over or dig under a fence, get out and attack another dog or person. I don't think that plan was well thought out before making it official.

[Punkygirl0101]

I don't understand why dog lovers wouldn't disagree with these dogs being chained 24/7? That is cruel. Dogs are pack animals, and need to be with their humans..not on a chain, alone in the corner of someones backyard.

I completely agree with the chaining law here in California, but sadly so far they haven't done a thing about the dogs me or my friend have called to report. Its like the SPCA doesn't care.

[bluedawg]

Its because the are many people use chains and tethers in a responsable manner. Laws like this punish people like me and 2 of my neighbors who use tether systems for our dogs.

[Punkygirl0101]

I think using a long tether, which we had to use in the past with our dachshund/poodle mix who could climb fences is MUCH different then a dog put on a chain that LIVES on it..

The law here is a dog can't be chained/tether for longer than 3 hours.

[Doglover1988]

I agree with dogs should not be chained 24/7 but sometimes Lucy is on her chain for up to 8 hours or sometimes more during the day if i'm home because she loves being outside. I make sure to supervise and make sure she doesn't get hurt.

[Punkygirl0101]

I also think its different if you have a huge yard without a fence. But when I see people with a small backyard, that I think looks like crap, and they have a dog chained in the corner..I think "What the point of getting a dog?". The least they could do is allow it free range of the yard if its going to live outside.

[Doglover1988]

Yeah it is pretty pointless to have a dog chained outside that you just feed and water. My neighbors did they had a lab mix, min pin, and shnauzer mix all chained to dog houses on short chains. Thankfully though now due to a new law in my area he has them all on electric fence collars so they have free run of his yard. Although one did escape the invisible fence and I had to return her.