Dog chaining ban starts in Georgetown

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - A dog-chaining prohibition approved by the city council in June goes into effect on Wednesday. The ordinance provided for a six-month period to allow dog owners to build fencing in order to comply with the new rule. The ban means that a dog cannot be kept chained or tied to a stake all day long.

The rule also applies to trolley restraints in which a dog tether is connected by a pulley to an overhead wire, such as a clothesline. The ordinance also requires that dogs kept in a yard have a pen at least 150 square-feet in size. The new rule does allow for the use of leashes and of temporary restraints, as long as the dogs owner remains with the dog.

One of the primary reasons to prohibit dog chaining is that chained dogs are more likely to hurt people. The American Veterinary Medical Association recognized this risk in a 2003 statement: Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior.

A violation of the Georgetown dog-chaining ban is a class C misdemeanor. Animal Services Manager Ken Finn said the goal of the ordinance is to eliminate danger to people and create a more humane community for dogs.

"We want people to comply," said Finn.

The ordinance also prohibits wrapping a chain or tether around a dogs neck, or using a chain or tether that weighs more than five percent of the dogs body weight. A properly-fitting harness or collar must be used.

Organizations against dog chaining include the American Humane Society , the Humane Society of the U.S., the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Information about dog tethering and its alternatives can be found on the Humane Society Web site . Other resources include the Dogs Deserve Better Web site and the Unchain Your Dog Web site . For details, contact Georgetown Animal Services at (512) 930-3592 or via email at animalsvc@georgetowntx.org .