The Board of County Commissioners is expected to consider an amendment that would limit the tethering (or chaining) of dogs in Orange County.
The amendment will recommend limiting the time a dog could be tethered, creating minimum sizes for outdoor pens and regulating the types of tether that can be used.
A hearing is being tentatively scheduled for the May 20 BOCC meeting. Refer to the Animal Services website at www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices for information.
Kudos the county for considering legislation that would put reasonable limits on how long a dog can be chained and forced to pace the same patch of dirt — often growing ever more neurotic, depressed and dangerous as the months and years tick by. Numerous states and municipalities are passing similar laws because people are finally recognizing that there is this big hole in our animal welfare laws that allow people to engage in a barbaric, antiquated practice. Sure, there are some issues with enforceability, but a tethering time limit is working well in California, Texas and a host of cities and counties nationwide. Responsible pet owners are not affected. The people most affected are those who chose never to devote any time, attention, money or care to their dogs in the first place, but who just “took the easy way out” when it comes to caring for them. The laws are also helping law enforcement crack down on dog fighting.
Common sense is being ignored as usual to “pitch” radical animal rightists agenda. A dog on a 60′ overhead trolley line gets much more daily exercise than one on a leash possibly walked 15 minutes a day. Not all breeds are suited for being kept in house but need to be kept outdoors. Who died and left the would be animal brown shirts in charge of anyone else?
“often growing ever more neurotic, depressed and dangerous as the months and years tick by. ”
A “neurotic, depressed” dog? Where do you take such an animal for counseling? Will my healthcare insurance pay for it? Maybe we need national pet healthcare. Where is Hillary when I need her?
Ann – Goodness, please spare us the name calling. I’m no “brown shirt” or extremist (guess what, I even eat meat) and neither are many others nationwide who see horrendous suffering every day when dogs are kept chained for their lives. And yes, perpetually dogs most certainly do grow neurotic and depressed, sometimes they go insane. I see it constantly and it is awful. Why are you so snarky? What’s so defenseable and great about allowing people to stake a dog in the yard and to leave it there for 10 years to pace back and forth in the same patch of dirt or mud? I’m not saying dogs should not be chained for short periods or that some should not kept outside for their lives. Those are kind of separate issues.
I agree with Ann, a otherwise well kept dog on a tether is a much better situation than the dog being kept inside all day. And, some dogs simply cannot be contained by a typical fence. To me, the loneliness and boredom of indoors and not being able to relieve themselves is much more cruel.