Just two short weeks ago animal activists went to the Portsmouth City Council to ask for a Dog tethering ban. After hearing from various parties this vote could happen as early as tomorrow night’s meeting. While it is true that council members could postpone the vote inside sources say this isn’t very likely. What is more likely is that they will amend the city code to restrict owners from tethering dogs for no more than a few hours a day and that the dog must have access to fresh water and shade, rather than ban tethering all together.
Councilman Bill Moody Jr. said that he supported a time restriction rather than a ban. There are some locations where even having your dog on a tether next to you and having it reported by a neighbor would have animal control at your door to investigate and that is not something he is comfortable with. There are very few reasons why you might need to leave your dog outside and choose to tether them and he feels that a responsible dog owner should be able to allow their dog to spent some time outside.
Portsmouth is the latest Hampton Roads city where lobbyists have gone to the city council to ask for a law against continuous dog tethering. Hampton officials to passed a Dog tethering ban this summer and Newport News city council has also been approached to looking into banning the practice. Norfolk and Virginia Beach each have three-hour time restrictions, while Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk have no time limits.
Current Portsmouth city code says owners must use a tether that is at least three times the length of their pet’s body and provide shelter and clean water while the tether is in use. Violations are punishable by a $250 fine.
Councilman Bill Moody Jr. said Monday that he supported a time restriction rather than a full dog tethering ban. He said there may be situations where an owner needs to tie up a dog, such as when a worker needs to get into a fenced yard or an owner is outside in their garden and they want to bring their dog outside too but the fence isn’t completely secure. There are some locations where even having your dog on a tether next to you and having it reported by a neighbor would have animal control at your door to investigate. There are very few reasons why you might need to leave your dog outside and choose to tether them.
I hope the law gets passed. I don’t understand constant tethering. It has been banned here in my area.
Hope the tethering is banned, no dog should be tied to anything. This makes me sick to see a dog tied without food and water, or not protected from the outside elements.If a dog has to be tied, than you do not need an animal.