Public hearing on proposed animal chaining limits

BY DENICE THIBODEAU

(434) 791-7985

Danville’s pet owners will have their first chance to speak out about a proposed city ordinance that would place limits on how long dogs and cats can be tied up outside.

A public hearing on the ordinance will be held during Thursday night’s regular Danville City Council meeting, and a vote could be taken on Nov. 17.

Paulette Dean, executive director of Danville Area Humane Society, asked for the new law to limit the hours an animal can be kept chained to three in any 24 hours.

Dean gave a slideshow presentation to City Council members during a work session on Oct. 22 that showed photographs of animals kept on tethers that are too short for the animal’s size, filthy conditions and lack of food, water and shelter from the weather.

The presentation included graphic photographs of the dangers of tethering, including wounds or death caused by chains embedded in a dog’s neck or too tightly wrapped around a leg, animals strangled or hung from fences when they tried to escape the chain and animals who had nowhere to run when strays attacked — all taken during calls local Animal Control officers responded to.

Dean said tethered dogs are generally deprived of enough human contact, which in turn makes them territorial and aggressive — and a danger to the public.

“Chained dogs become highly territorial, attacking people who infringe upon their territory. Sadly, many of those cases are children, who are unaware of the dog’s presence until it is too late,” Dean’s presentation stated. “Tethered dogs can also get loose and, still aggressive, chase and attack unsuspecting passersby and pets.”

Dean said chained dog are responsible for 90 percent of the animal calls officers respond to in Danville, citing statistics about cruelty, attacks, deaths of or by other animals, bites and overall court cases.

Other cities around the state and the country have successfully banned chaining of dogs, Dean said, with the end result being a decrease in cruelty complaints. She showed statistic from cities that had banned chaining completely, and others that had one- to three-hour chaining limits, that reflected reductions in cruelty complaints, bites and loose animal calls.

“Banning the chaining of dogs is not only humane, but it is achievable,” she said. 

Dean said she wasn’t looking for a law that would take effect immediately, stating that she wanted to give pet owners time to get used to the new rules and set up better arrangements for the animals before the law goes into effect on July 1, 2010.

Animals can still be kept in yards as long as they are in “dog lots,” or kennels, Dean said, adding that the Humane Society is willing to help people get kennels.

“We are setting up a fund to help people purchase lots,” Dean said, adding the fund will be started with a $5,000 contribution.

People will have to apply for the kennel assistance — and will have to allow the Humane Society to give their animals free spays and neuters, Dean said.

The leash law will not be affected by the chain ban — animals cannot run loose, and the ban will not affect animals being walked on a leash, Dean said.

Thibodeau is a staff writer for the Danville Register & Bee.