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.
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.
(Photo courtesy of dogsdeservebetter.org)
August 11th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
The dangerous dog from Forsyth County that attacked my child, ripping a portion of her face off when she was six in 2006, was unchained. The dog was roaming freely in a gorgeously manicured lawn that sloped down to the water’s edge. On a lakeside estate. It had been brought to that spot by its idiot owners who, despite the pathetic dog having bitten three other people before it attacked my child, was deemed perfectly ok by its (again, idiot) owners to roam freely around children.
One lawsuit (we won; they lost), one euthanized pet, three surgeries for my child’s face later let’s hope the PEOPLE who keep dangerous dogs have learned something from their prior stupidities.
The animals can’t help becoming what people allow them to become. All the chains and the housing and the fencing can’t do much if people who are incapable of the responsibilities of animal ownership continue to be allowed to own animals.
They are, after all is said and done, still just that – animals.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
What do you mean “propaganda”? There’s no propaganda when it comes to the fact that to chain a dog is to make it mean. A dog can only do two things, fight or flee, when confronted. When you take away the option to flee, then all they can do is fight. Many a child who has wandered too close to a chained dog has paid the price and that is fact, not “propaganda”.
August 12th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Actually, my term “pro-canine propaganda” was intended as ironic humor.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I would like to add that Dogs Deserve Better is not a “website”
We have nearly 150 representatives all over the US, Canada, China and the UK. We are a 501(c)(3) not for profit aimed toward educating the public on the issues of forcing a social companion animal to spend their lives in isolation at the end of a chain or in a cage. Being apart from the pack or family causes frustration and anxiety in theses animals. They are not wired to live alone without socialization and stimulation.
People chain and pen dogs for many reasons and almost always is based on ignorance of the animal and their needs. If you don’t have time to properly train a dog, don’t have the mental skills to understand a dog or don’t have the knowledge of proper care of a dog then just don’t get a dog. I hear people say, well I keep her chained out there because she sheds … dogs shed, if that bothers you, again, don’t get a dog.
August 13th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Based on the number of chained dogs I have seen in and around my neighborhood, I concur with Marie Balenger: Don’t get a dog. PLEASE.
And, you folks who would let your pooch range unfettered across parks and other public spaces, I refer to my entreaty above. Don’t get a dog if you aren’t willing to abide by the rules.