Vicki
Administrator
Southwest Ranches approves law to control tethering
Town aims to protect dogs from cruel chaining
By Susannah Bryan
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
9:35 PM EDT, June 18, 2009
SOUTHWEST RANCHES
It was a dog-gone good night for canines Thursday at Town Hall.
Council members unanimously approved Nikki's Law, making it a crime to tether the town's dogs longer than 16 hours.
Nikki, the Doberman for whom the law was named, sat in the front row with owners Tony Vincent and Scott Christensen.
The men adopted Nikki in December 2004 after she was rescued from an abusive owner who had not bothered to loosen her collar as she grew. Rescuers found her tied to a tree, the chainlink collar digging 2 inches into her flesh.
On Thursday, resident Dee Schroeder urged the council to pass the anti-tethering law.
"These animals don't have a voice," she said before the 5-0 vote. "You're their voice. Every dog has its day and this is Nikki's day."
Accustomed to the spotlight as poster dog for the Humane Society's "Break the Chain" campaign, Nikki hammed it up for the obligatory photo session with the town's elected leaders.
She smiled. She panted. She flopped on the floor. As if on cue, her audience laughed and clapped.
"A true ham," said one man in the back of the room.
Ten minutes later, Nikki made her exit, her job done.
Nikki's Law says: Dogs can't be tethered in bad weather or longer than 16 hours a day. They must have access to food, water, shelter and dry ground. They can't be tethered if they are sick, injured or younger than six months. The tether must be five times the length of the dog's body; connected to a buckle-type collar or harness not less than 1 inch wide; and attached in a way that avoids injury or strangulation. It cannot be excessively heavy.
Violators can face up to 60 days in jail and fines up to $5,000 per violation.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/communi...west-ranches-tethering-061809,0,3171906.story
Town aims to protect dogs from cruel chaining
By Susannah Bryan
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
9:35 PM EDT, June 18, 2009
SOUTHWEST RANCHES
It was a dog-gone good night for canines Thursday at Town Hall.
Council members unanimously approved Nikki's Law, making it a crime to tether the town's dogs longer than 16 hours.
Nikki, the Doberman for whom the law was named, sat in the front row with owners Tony Vincent and Scott Christensen.
The men adopted Nikki in December 2004 after she was rescued from an abusive owner who had not bothered to loosen her collar as she grew. Rescuers found her tied to a tree, the chainlink collar digging 2 inches into her flesh.
On Thursday, resident Dee Schroeder urged the council to pass the anti-tethering law.
"These animals don't have a voice," she said before the 5-0 vote. "You're their voice. Every dog has its day and this is Nikki's day."
Accustomed to the spotlight as poster dog for the Humane Society's "Break the Chain" campaign, Nikki hammed it up for the obligatory photo session with the town's elected leaders.
She smiled. She panted. She flopped on the floor. As if on cue, her audience laughed and clapped.
"A true ham," said one man in the back of the room.
Ten minutes later, Nikki made her exit, her job done.
Nikki's Law says: Dogs can't be tethered in bad weather or longer than 16 hours a day. They must have access to food, water, shelter and dry ground. They can't be tethered if they are sick, injured or younger than six months. The tether must be five times the length of the dog's body; connected to a buckle-type collar or harness not less than 1 inch wide; and attached in a way that avoids injury or strangulation. It cannot be excessively heavy.
Violators can face up to 60 days in jail and fines up to $5,000 per violation.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/communi...west-ranches-tethering-061809,0,3171906.story