Forsyth Co. considers restricting tethering

ATLANTA - Forsyth County is considering an ordinance that would make it the latest in Georgia to restrict chaining or tethering dogs.

Neighboring Fulton County adopted an anti-tethering ordinance last month that takes effect in September.

Donna Cory is a resident of south Fulton County who says she loves dogs but not the plans to restrict tethering. She says the ordinance goes too far.

``Irresponsible pet owners that leave animals tethered for hours or days at a time should be punished and forbidden to ever own pets again,'' she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

``But to classify a valid tool for pet safety as a criminal offense for almost any use is ridiculous.''

Cory said she tethers sparingly her 11-year-old bearded mixed collie named Cissy sparingly. ``I do not have a fence and cannot add an inexpensive fence due to neighborhood restrictions,'' she said.

Forsyth County commissioners will seek public comment on the anti-tethering rule at a hearing May 7.

The current draft would limit the use of a tether or other restraint to no more than three hours and only when the owner or someone else is present.

Violators would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and 12 months in jail.
Other metro Atlanta jurisdictions that have restrictions on tethering include Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb, Cherokee and Rockdale counties and the city of Gainesville.

In middle Georgia, officials in the city of Macon passed an ordinance banning the tethering of dogs and cats in February 20008. Officials gave pet owners an opportunity to build fences and dog pens between February and July before they began enforcing it.

The ordinance makes it illegal to leave a dog or cat tied up outside unless the pet owner also is outside.

Fuller says the ordinance was passed after animal control received numerous calls about chained dogs jumping over fences and hanging themselves.

The assistant director of animal control, Paula Fuller, said the ordinance was passed after animal control received numerous calls about chained dogs jumping over fences and hanging themselves.

In Fulton County, Teresa Palko of Roswell can't imagine any of her three ``pure-breed mutts'' on the end of a chain. ``You wouldn't tie up your child in the yard, so don't do it to an animal,'' Palko said.