[chinasmom]

Dog owners could get 90 days to break chains
By RICK LAVENDER
The Times
GAINESVILLE
Gainesville dog owners who keep their pets tethered or chained may have 90 days to comply with a chaining ban the City Council likely will adopt early next month. Council discussed the grace period during a work session Thursday. The board favored outlawing tethering 4-1 two days earlier. A final vote is scheduled for June 5. If approved as written, restrictions will go into effect immediately. Mayor Pro-tem Myrtle Figueras asked council Thursday to consider a six-month delay. Figueras, who opposed the ban as government intrusion ripe with unpredictable fallout, said the Humane Society of Hall County will need time to pursue grants and devise a plan to help low-income dog owners. "I'd like to see that plan" first, she said. But most council members sided with Danny Dunagan's suggestion of 90 days instead of six months. "I think that is a reasonable time," Mayor Bob Hamrick said later. Figueras does not disagree. "At least," she said, "it gives a person a chance to say I can do this or I can't do this." Dunagan said enforcement will be spurred by complaints, not animal control staff searching for dogs on chains. "I think it's not going to be something that comes (up) ... unless there's a call. ... Hopefully, they're going to use some common sense." The amendment will make it unlawful to restrain a dog or other domestic animal by tether, chain, cable, rope or cord, unless the tether is held by someone as a leash. Some area counties, including Gwinnett, have banned or limited tethering. Hall Humane Society leaders pressed council to bar the practice, which they consider cruel. They plan to approach the county commission after the city ordinance is finalized.
Council meets at 5:30 p.m. June 5 in the Georgia Mountains Center, 301 Main St.

http://www.gainesvi lletimes. com/news/ stories/20070518 /localnews/ 174370.shtml

[buddysmom]

Too bad such a law is needed, but I wish my town would have this law also. 99.9 percent of people who chain dogs do it in an abusive/neglectful way.

[Miakoda]

So I guess we just turn our dog loose to roam the streets then?

People who abuse & neglect dogs will do so no matter how the dog is contained.

[Michele]

I agree Mia.......

[buddysmom]

Originally Posted by Miakoda So I guess we just turn our dog loose to roam the streets then? People who abuse & neglect dogs will do so no matter how the dog is contained.

No offense meant ... present company excluded ... I include in that .01 percent (or whatever tiny fraction) of people who chain dogs who do it properly.

In my town, on all my walks, bike rides etc. i see many dogs chained and it always is wrong. They are chained 24/7 and/or with improper shelter etc.

[Marty]

Read this...

http://www.angelfire.com/indie/theol...ntethering.pdf

Dogs have been contained for 100s of yrs with no problem, its when the AR folks get involed that starts the problems.

[buddysmom]

By AR do you mean animal rights people?

Of course as I'm sure you know ... not all animal rights advocates are PETA type idiot wing-nuts.

I regularly see dogs chained to garages and houses 24/7 with no human contact ... they are placed there as alarm systems as if they were not living feeling beings at all.

I will not defend that (tho I know that is not your intention either).

[Dunlap]

I prefer chains and I know alot of people who prefer chains and do it right...I've also come across a few people who chain their dogs and the way they do it, I would call it abuse. But when I come across them, the dogs always seem to "slip off" the chain before I leave

I'd rather have someone pick up the dog and take em' home or take the chance of the dog becoming road kill. No animal should have to live in missery be it on a chain, in a house, or in a pin...

[buddysmom]

Originally Posted by Dunlap II'd rather have someone pick up the dog and take em' home or take the chance of the dog becoming road kill. No animal should have to live in missery be it on a chain, in a house, or in a pin...

I agree with your sentiment but very mixed feelings about the method.

It is a moral dilemma when you know A/C will not do anything about a neglectful situation.

But if you set the dog free it could bite someone or cause some other "incident" and whether it is a pit bull or not the media likely will call it so, and then you have the damn city councils etc. calling for BSL ...

Also a loose dog could cause a driver to get killed trying to avoid it or whatever ... this happened to a co-worker some years ago.

I don't know what's the right thing (if there is a right thing)

[chinasmom]

I will be the first to admit that I have two dogs that live on chains, with housing, food and water. But they do get to go on a mile run everyday and are not ignored. There is a right way and wrong way to do everthing.

[buddysmom]

Originally Posted by chinasmom I will be the first to admit that I have two dogs that live on chains, with housing, food and water. But they do get to go on a mile run everyday and are not ignored. There is a right way and wrong way to do everthing.

Those are some of the luckiest dogs in the world then

[Dunlap]

Originally Posted by buddysmom I agree with your sentiment but very mixed feelings about the method. It is a moral dilemma when you know A/C will not do anything about a neglectful situation. But if you set the dog free it could bite someone or cause some other "incident" and whether it is a pit bull or not the media likely will call it so, and then you have the damn city councils etc. calling for BSL ... Also a loose dog could cause a driver to get killed trying to avoid it or whatever ... this happened to a co-worker some years ago. I don't know what's the right thing (if there is a right thing)

Well 95% dogs that I've let loose were out in the country. I do construction work (vinyl siding, roofing, remodeling, ect.) and we come across ALL sorts of people both good and bad. There was one house that we were working on for a family that was getting the work done for free...kinda. The teenage boy that lived there was completely paralized do to a foot ball injury and the community came together to get a big room addition built on the back of the house. It was a place for him that was easily accesable** for a wheel chair. Anyways, we were doing the work on the outside of it and they had a little beagle mix on a tangled chain that looked to be 8-10 feet long. The dog's water bowl was a fish tank that has all the little figureins** and mess like that made inyo the tank. Wel it had been freezin rain and snowin for about a week and the whole time the dog was cut'n his tounge up on the ice to get a drink. I would give him water from the cooler when i saw him trying to drink. The food they were giving him was nothing but left overs like beans, rice and cornbread for the most part. I know they had money to take better care of the dog because there was ALWAYS someone stopping by giving them money and checks, the news crew even came out one day and gave them a $5,000.00 check and a new van. The guy said that he didnt even want the dog and that it was the kid's but they didnt care about it anymore. So I let the dog go about mid way through the job and the guy didnt even give 2 $hits, he just didnt want to be bothered with it.


Where we live, there is no animal control or anything like that for a good hour or two and they dont do anything around here. It's not uncommon to run over a feed sack that is full of kittens...that is just one way that these numb nutts get rid of them around here. That and dumping off dogs and pups on dirt roads. Mosy of the time I'll pick up the dogs and take care of em' until I can find someone who wants them. But anyways, there's all sorts of cruelty and just plain out crazy mess that goes on around here and nothing gets done about it... Until a pit bull bites someone, then it makes the news. But other than that, no one cares what happens...

[Dunlap]

Originally Posted by chinasmom I will be the first to admit that I have two dogs that live on chains, with housing, food and water. But they do get to go on a mile run everyday and are not ignored. There is a right way and wrong way to do everthing.

I've got a "few" dogs out here. Most of them are on chains but some of the younger ones are in 10'x20' pins. I keep things very clean out here and my dogs get all the attention possible. I dont get to walk all of them as much as I'd like to but they stay occupied lol. My shortest chain is 15' and my longest is 30'-35', the length just depends on which dog it's tied to. All of my dogs have very good tempermeants but especially like my 6 year old nephew. Well I say all, one of them dont like men but that's because of how she was treated before I got her and then someone that took care of them when i was out of town was mean to her so...yeah, but she's gettin better each day.

[Michele]

As Chinasmom said, there is a right way and a wrong way. As long as they get shelter, food, human interaction, I see no problem with it. On another forum, I saw a guy post a picture of his dog's heated outside house. Hell, I would live in that.

As far as the AR/PETA people are concerned, most of them are crazy lunatics, IMO. They see a dog chained and automatically assume the dog is being abused. Most of the time, they need to butt out and mind their own business. They cause more problems in the longrun.

[buddysmom]

Originally Posted by Michele As far as the AR/PETA people are concerned, most of them are crazy lunatics, IMO. They see a dog chained and automatically assume the dog is being abused. Most of the time, they need to butt out and mind their own business. They cause more problems in the longrun.

I don't see AR people and PETA people as all one and the same. People who truly advocate for animal rights would have NOTHING to do with PETA, because PETA promotes and engages in animal cruelty themselves.

At some point no one will speak out for the animals because if they do, they will be immediately labeled as a PETA freak.

[Michele]

What's wrong with being for animal rights? People who truly advocate for animal rights would have nothing to do with PETA.

i'm for animal rights. I will go nuts if I see or read about animal abuse. I'll hunt you down and make you pay. You already know that Buddysmom. Remember DAL? I'm talking about the fanatics that go around and see a dog chained outside, and start flipping out. I'm talking about people that play God. I'm talking about the fanatics that throw paint on people wearing fur coats. I hate furs too, but there's a better way to fight that fight and it's not by throwing paint on them. There's nothing wrong with being for the animals. You just have to know when to fight and when not to.....

[buddysmom]

yeah I know you are for animal rights Michele there is no doubt about that.

I just don't like every "animal rights person" bing lumped in with the nutcakes that you describe. It is all in the language. When you use a term like "AR/PETA people" it makes other people think that they are all one group so if I consider myself an animal rights person others may assume I must be a PETA person too ...

and HELL NO that ain't true by any means.

[Michele]

Buddysmom: you are right. I shouldn't of lumped the 2 together......my mistake.............

[DryCreek]

I do not support animal rights but I am strong believer in animal welfare. It may seem like a minor distinction to some but to me there is a world of difference. Every animal deserves to be treated with respect and caring but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, my rights will always be a step above an animals. When someone else decides that my methods of care are not up to their standards and makes the decision that I don't deserve my animals, they have overstepped their boundries. Now they are forcing me to follow their beliefs. I refuse to allow that to happen, whether it has to do with politics, religion, or animal husbandry.

I understand that many who believe in animal rights don't want to be labeled as PETA supporters/types, yet many AR people would not hesitate to label me as unfit to own animals due to containment issues or for my beliefs about what is proper animal care.

If you look at both sides of the coin here, we all end up lumped into the extreme side of the catagories whether we belong there or not. That is exactly what the anti chaining, pro mandatory spay/neuter law believers do, lump the good ones in with the bad. And we lump all the AR people into the extremist/activist catagory. There never seems to be any allowance for middle ground.

I don't want anyone to take this as a judgement on their beliefs, everyone has a right to believe whatever they want, but it has been shown that the "extremists" are unwilling to see any side but their own and that is where I have a problem.

We all know that there are none here that fit that catagory and I deeply respect everyones views. It can just be a little frustrating sometimes and I appreciate the way you all listen.

And Marty, awesome link my friend. Took forever to download but it was definately worth the wait.

[buddysmom]

While I don't agree with everything you say DryCreek, you do make some good points.

I still maintain that the vast percentage people who chain dogs do it in a cruel way. Though no one on this forum I am quite certain.

But if my neighbor was chaining his dog without proper shelter, with no human contact, etc. then I will be happy to "trample on his rights" and put his animal's rights first. If someone chooses to abuse another living being, I don't give a rat's @ss about their "personal rights" any longer.