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AccessNorthGa.com - News Articles: North Georgia's Sporting News Weather and News

Gainesville City Council passes anti-dog chain law on first reading

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville City Council Tuesday voted to outlaw chains or tethers on dogs over the objection of Mayor Pro Tem Myrtle Figueras.

The vote was 4-1, with Figueras dissenting.

The ordinance takes effect in two weeks on Council's second reading at its next regular meeting.

Figueras called the ordinance micro-management by the city.

"I believe this will be a law of unintended consequences," Figueras said. "It may protect some animals but it could also cause many animals to leave good homes where they have been cared for and they are happy."

"These dogs will be put in the street, or taken in by the Humane Society which is already overpopulated, and these beautiful animals will be put to death."

The Mayor Protem said she knew of restrained dogs in her district that are loved and cared for.

Councilman George Wangemann, who cast one of the four yes votes, said he has seen neglected dogs on chains in his district and the anti-tethering ordinance will send a message.

"You ought to be a responsible pet owner if you are going to own a pet and that's why I will support it," Wangemann said.

The ordinance states that the dog may be "securely and humanely enclosed in a house, building, fence or pen or other enclosure" which the animal cannot climb, dig, jump or escape from and the enclosure must be locked when the pet is left unattended.

Invisible containment systems may be used with a posted sign, but it is unlawful to restrain the animal with a tether, chain, cable, rope or cord unless a competent person is holding the restraint.

The ordinance grew out of an appeal by Humane Society to pass an anti-tethering law in Gainesville.

[SoberGuy]

I can understand some of the concern, but I'm not a big fan of the government legislating every little thing we do. So now it's illegal to tether a dog. What about those folks who stroll down the street and tether the dog while they get a quick drink in the 7-11? Just ridiculous, if you ask me.

I'm sorry, I had to come back for more.

Why don't they legislate the body odor of some of the people I work with? How about a law against chewing with your mouth open and smacking your food around? California will soon enforce headsets for cell phones while driving. Then we'll need another law about make-up, eating, text messaging, e-mailing, etc. while driving. Then we'll start banning talking to passengers, because a lot of people here can't even do that and drive safely. Oh, and no dancing while driving, unless you're under 25 and blonde, in a convertible, and the weather is over 78.

OK, I feel better.

[mpgt]

The tether, chain or leash does not constitute abuse. Combined with other circumstances it might be, like prolonged periods, water out of reach, no shade, etc. It looks like they passed another knee jerk remedy as an easy way out.

[John_E_Dove]

Like SoberGuy I am very much opposed to even more government interference in our personal lives but in this case I applaud their action.
I feel one of the worst forms of cruelty to a dog is fastening them on a chain for hours on end with no where to go and nothing to do. My house dogs have over an acre of fenced yard to run in and only see a leash/chain when they go to the vet. They also have a dog door which allows them free access to the house when they want.
Our stock guards dogs get the same pasturage as our goats and free access to the shade of trees and barns.
I hate seeing chained dogs with spilled or sun heated water, fly infested food dishes, little or no shade and often tangled around something to the point they cannot move.