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FL-Tarpon Springs-Ordinance Would Prohibit Tethering For More Than An Hour

Vicki

Administrator
Tarpon moves to end canine chaining


By Mark Schantz | The Suncoast News
Published: May 30, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - It may soon be illegal to chain dogs outside for long periods of time.

City commissioners learned Tuesday night many dogs are chained outside, in the hot sun, for several hours in a practice called tethering.

Nancy Dively, who several years ago persuaded the city to construct a dog park, returned to City Hall to tell commissioners chaining a dog is cruel and inhumane.

It often makes a dog agitated and aggressive. If they get off the chain they are likely to attack other animals or be aggressive toward people.
"It is a documented fact that chained dogs are more likely to bite," Dively said.

Most chained dogs end up suffering from various medical issues such as heartworm, flea infestation, worms and ear infections, just to name a few, she said.

She said she has seen chained dogs in the city that were obviously being raised solely for fighting.

Commissioners agreed that dogs in the city should be treated more humanely. They endorsed an idea to pattern a local ordinance after one adopted five years ago in Wichita, Kan.

The local ordinance would prohibit tethering a dog for longer than one hour at a time or for more than three hours a day. The ordinance would require a three-hour interval between each hour a dog can be tethered.
A chain would have to be three times the length of the dog but not allow the animal to reach the right of way. Choke or chain collars would not be allowed.

Tuesday night commissioners thanked Dively for assisting the city in protecting its dog population.

Commissioners requested city legal staff design a local version based on the Kansas ordinance for consideration at a future meeting.

http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2009/may/30/pi-tarpon-moves-to-end-canine-chaining/news/