Dog Community

"If we can't have the dogs chained to the tree, what's the point of having them?"

Posted : 5/27/2006 5:44:41 PM

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. -- Dog days won't be limited to summer anymore in Holly Springs, where officials have mandated that pets live safe and comfortable lives.

The Town Council last week passed one of the toughest animal cruelty ordinances in the region. The new law makes it illegal to leave pets chained up outside for a prolonged period of time or to transport pets in the back of pickup trucks unless they're safely secured.

Violators could face fines of up to $50 a day.

Devon Carter said the ordinance goes too far. He keeps his dogs chained to a tree most days, but he said that doesn't mean he doesn#%92t love them.

"If we can't have the dogs chained to the tree, what's the point of having them? They can't be inside the house," Carter said.

Holly Springs spokesman Mark Andrews said the law is meant to force some pet owners to change bad habits.

"It's really a common-sense thing -- things that most would agree would be harmful to an animal," Andrews said. "We're not out to issue tickets. Our goal is to protect animals."

Rhonda Lowe, who rescues endangered dogs for a living, agreed that the new law will keep her four-legged friends safe from harm.

"These dogs can't take care of themselves. We have to make sure they're well taken care of," said Lowe, of North Carolina Schnauzer Rescue

pofi_pasquale

Posted : 5/27/2006 5:51:05 PM

Sorry. His comment just leaves me speechless.....

huskymom

Posted : 5/27/2006 5:51:25 PM

Well geez everyone knows that dogs are meant to be secluded from anything and everything. What will we be able to tie them to instead of the trees? rolls eyes.

sooner

Posted : 5/27/2006 5:52:31 PM

ORIGINAL: pofi_pasquale

Sorry. His comment just leaves me speechless.....

Me too.

willowchow

Posted : 5/27/2006 5:55:28 PM

As the mom of a dog who was tied to a tree 24/7 for the first two years of her life, I am SO pleased with this new law. [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif]

There is a big difference between putting the dog out on an appropriate tie out for some fresh air for awhile and leaving them out there constantly with collars getting embedded and no attention.

As for his comment--what is he talking about anyway?? He has them so he can tie them to a tree?? I don't understand. He's an idiot, obviously.

Suzi

Posted : 5/27/2006 6:13:09 PM

I think they should make it $500 [

] and not just $50!! I personally won't chain my dog on a tree and just leave them out there. When I was volunteering walking shelter dogs, we passed by a dog locked up in a backyard as a guard dog. The dog was crying the whole time looking through the gates. It's just sad that someone would leave them outside bored out of their mind. Who likes being force to stay in one area, I know I will go crazy. [:'(]

ron2

Posted : 5/27/2006 6:14:38 PM

The only time I have Shadow on a tie-out chain is when we are visting a friend with no fenced yard. Even then, I am there with him, except for bathroom breaks (for me). Or, at the in-laws when I am loading or unloading. As for him riding in the back of my truck, it has a camper shell with sliding windows and screens and the entire thing can be locked. Otherwise, he is up front, with me.

Outside of that, he is outside in the yard if we are going to be gone from the house more than an hour or so. He sleeps in the house at night and during summer, he's in the house as much as he cares to be. On a day off or evening, if I have to go to the store, in the summer, I will leave him in the house with AC between 70 and 75.

Outside, one or two big bowls of water, a cooler mat that I can freeze and a patio with corrugate steel roof for shade.

dasher

Posted : 5/27/2006 6:18:19 PM

What are great law!! Wish all states would adopt that!! (no comment on what Mr. Carter said.. [:@], I think it speaks for itself)

magilacudy

Posted : 5/27/2006 6:31:53 PM

I wish they would bring that law here. In the three years I have lived here I have never seen the dogs across me ever off their chain. Other than when they snap it and come eat my ducks and chickens.[:@]

Minty_Pups

Posted : 5/27/2006 11:30:35 PM

The only time I tie my dogs out is if I'm sitting out on the porch or doing lawn work, where they're within my range of sight. I won't even leave them in the backyard for longer than 10 minutes alone by themselves because I'm afraid that they might escape or start barking at the neighbors.

I think the more appropriate question is, "What's the point of having dogs if they ARE chained to the tree?" It seems ridiculous to me that people can claim to love their dogs when they spend maybe 2 hours each day with them. Not to mention how dangerous it is for the dog if it escapes or gets poisoned/abused by other people.

Julie Byers

Posted : 5/27/2006 11:42:03 PM

I think it's a great law, and well overdue. Personally, I have never tied up Mack or my first dog outside for any reason. If I have to tie up my dog to keep him out of trouble, or so he wouldn't bother me; then I would think it meant that I was being sorta lazy and that my dog and I needed an intensive and lengthy schedule of obedience lessons.
There ought to be a law about dogs in hot cars, dogs on blistering hot concrete, and also laws to force owners to spay/neuter all pets that are not show quality. BYB's should be expressly illegal.
I am more and more believing that as long as life is not sacred, then it's only a commodity. I am turning into a 'radical' huh. Jules

lorib

Posted : 5/28/2006 2:32:07 AM

Gypsy gets tied on my porch when I am out front doing yard work or reading on the porch. Our front yard isn't fenced and we live on Main Street (I kid you not!) which is very busy. I am right there with her ALL of the time. Otherwise, I don't tie her out anywhere. I don't want to take a chance of her getting stolen and besides, she's my companion. Why would I get a companion animal and then tie her up and ignore her???

pumaward

Posted : 5/28/2006 7:55:57 AM

Maddi get's tied out to go to the bathroom (her, not me [

]; I don't take my eyes off her for more than 3 minutes at a time) and when I am out doing yard work, playing with her, or just sitting outside. My yard isn't fenced because we rent and it's really hard to invest a lot of money into a fence that we might leave in a month. I would love to have one, and Maddi would even more, but it's the way it is. I can't put a run up either because we have 1 junk car that's been here since we moved in and 1 car that's been broken down since the day we went to get Maddi. They kind of block prime run area.

Luvntzus

Posted : 5/28/2006 10:16:12 AM

Oh my goodness, I have no words for that guy's comment....... [

]

Katie M.

Posted : 5/28/2006 10:42:10 AM

Personally, I am happy to see the ordinance. They were specific to "long periods of time", so people who temporarily tether their dogs (mainly sporting dogs -- not going to see too many mushers in NC).

If these people don't have a choice but to chain these dogs outside (some mentalities can't be changed), they could have them attached to a runner instead of chained to a tree. That way they're outside and can guard (which is assume what he meant by "the point").