In trying to adopt a compromise on York County's tethering law, County Council members may have bought themselves a new headache. The law approved on first reading Monday night is complicated and likely to be hard to enforce.
The county has been working to update its animal control laws for months, but the issue of tethering came to the forefront in July when authorities seized 13 pit bulls from the backyard of a Rock Hill home. The dogs lacked adequate shelter and were restrained by logging chains. Some had no access to water, and none had tags showing they had received rabies shots.
But the county has no specific laws to prohibit animals from being chained to stakes in yards, and the pit bulls were returned to their owner after he promised to get them shots and make sure they had food and water.
The incident, however, spurred animal rights advocates to demand a change in county policies. And that, in turn, spurred a backlash from dog owners who said they tethered their animals humanely and should be allowed to continue doing so.
On Monday, the council gave unanimous approval to a law that allows tethering -- but only if certain conditions are met. The law requires that tethers be at least 10 feet long and that dogs have access to food, water and shelter.
Tethers cannot weigh more than 10 percent of the animal's body weight. And collars must be made of loosely fitting, pliable material, not metal that might choke the dog or cut into its neck. Chain, pinch and choke collars are prohibited.
Tethered dogs also must be far enough from stationary items, such as trees, to prevent tangling.
If the council wanted to compromise, it might have been better off requiring a trolley system, also known as a zip line, as a viable alternative to tethering. A trolley line is similar to a clothes line. A tether is attached to the zip line, which restrains the dog but gives it more freedom to roam. A trolley line is an inexpensive answer for those who can't afford fences or electronic devices designed to confine a dog to the owner's property.
As it is, animal control officers might have a tough time enforcing the new tethering law. For example, will they have to weigh the dog and then the tether to determine whether the line weighs only 10 percent as much as the dog?
Animal experts make a good case that chaining a dog to a stake for long periods of time is both cruel to the dog and potentially dangerous to those who come within biting distance. Tethered dogs tend to become more aggressive and territorial about the small circle in which they can move.
One study cited by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that chained dogs are almost three times more likely to bite than unchained dogs.
The new tethering law is an improvement over what is on the books now. But we believe requiring a trolley line is a more reasonable alternative.
Maybe council members will reconsider on the next reading of the tether law.
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The county's new tethering law, approved on first reading, may be hard to enforce. |
