What Do Local Governments Really Want???
By LadyMarissa
@LadyMarissa (12148)
United States
February 2, 2011 11:30am CST
http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/01/31/2795035/sc-man-fights-3200-fine-dog-beach.html
http://www.wyff4.com/news/26685222/detail.html
I just did a discussion a few days back about a man near a beach in South Carolina who was fined for not having his dog on a leash. Well, the law there like many other town is that ALL dogs MUST be walked on a leash. Today I see where another town in South Carolina has passed a law where your dog cannot be tethered for any longer than 2 hours or you will be fined. So, I looked up the leash law for the county & it states...
Greenville County Ordinance 4099, "Animals: Running at Large" is an offense of the County Animal Control Ordinance. Running at large is defined as being off the premises of the owner or keeper and not under physical control of the owner/keeper by means of a leash or other similar restraining order.
What are people who work supposed to do??? If they can't afford to fence in their yard, they have NO other choice but to tether their dog in order to comply with the leash law!!! Funny...NO it's NOT funny...but this particular county is always complaining that their animal shelters are too full. Then somebody adopts one of their strays & they pass law after law to punish them for being a good citizen & adopting on of their dogs!!!
How do you look at these 2 laws???
1 person likes this
2 responses
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
2 Feb 11
I do not believe in staking a dog out in a yard. In fact, when I adopted my Gus the contract specified that he not be subjected to that.
If people cannot afford a fenced area for their dog and don't want to keep him or her in the house they should not have a dog. Would you like to be staked out in all weather unable to go anywhere? And how about when the chain gets tangled and immobilizes the dog or chokes him? It's cruel and I agree with the law. It's up to the owner to provide a good loving home for the dog and if they can't afford it--well, pet ownership is an option and a privilege, not a right.
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
2 Feb 11
I can't totally disagree with you. I've NEVER kept a dog tethered in my yard as I find it cruel. When I moved back to my hometown & began looking for a house to buy, I insisted it have a fenced in yard or I wouldn't even consider it!!! I have many friends who do keep their dogs tethered in their yard & their dogs appear to be happy, healthy dogs. One of my friends who lives in the city mentioned & thinks this law is a GREAT idea keeps her 100 pound Black Lab in a crate 8-18 hours a day. Yes, the dog is inside & out of the weather, but it can't get out of the crate to stretch its legs or go to the bathroom until she gives it permission. I find that to be much more unacceptable than people who keep a dog tethered outside. The friends I have who keep theirs tethered get home from work & turn them loose & play ball with them; thereby giving them some exercise. They aren't just left out in the weather as they have a dog house with bedding & plenty of food & water where they are tethered. I find it odd that the city passed a law saying the dog must be kept under control at ALL times & then punish them for keeping the dog under control.
Much like having children, there are a lot of pet owners who really don't deserve them!!! Of course, if all these people who need to tether their dog outside stop adopting from their local shelter, there will be an even larger problem at the shelter!!! When I lived in DC I kept my Doberman in my 2 bedroom apartment & I felt guilty EVERY day!!! That is NOT fair to a dog either!!!! I tried to make it up to him by taking him for a walk every afternoon & to the park every weekend.
The part that bothered me most about this story was the city kept the vote a secret until AFTER they had passed the law. Also, when they did announce it, they showed a Pit Bull tethered outside. I know for a fact that not ALL tethered dogs are Pit Bulls. They were just using those dogs to justify what they had done & as a form of scare tactic!!!!
