Dog tether law goes into effect July 1 in Raleigh, NC
Source: News14.com, June 30, 2009
Starting July 1st, Raleigh will be keeping a closer eye on tied up dogs.
A new ordinance will only allow dogs to be tethered for three hours within a 24-hour period. The ordinance also requires the tethers to be at least 10 feet long, and it should be attached with some type of buckle or body harness. The law is meant to prevent the strangulation or injury of a dog. It’s also aiming to keep dogs out of harsh weather conditions without access to shelter, food or water.
“We will be watching homes if we think somebody is keeping them out more than three hours a day,” animal control specialist Erin Jenks said. “We’ll be going periodically during the day to that particular home and making spot checks on that animal.”
Dog owners like Keith Fogleman think the new law is a great idea.
“It’s just pure common sense, and I feel like it’ll certainly help the dogs,” he said. “I’m for it, absolutely.”
Fogleman prefers to keep his dog with him whenever possible and is not a fan of tethering dogs in general.
“It’s almost like being chained up all day to a tree,” he said. “You might have some water there, but I don’t know, it just seems cruel to me.”
Jenks said enforcing the new law will require the public’s help, so she encourages the public to call about possible violations. After all, tied up dogs are something she and her fellow officers see on a daily basis.
Violators can be fined up to $100 a day and be charged with a misdemeanor.
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