Interesting Anti-Tethering Law in Maryland County

[Athy]

Interesting new law here in Maryland. I had heard talk of an anti-tethering law but hadn't seen the details until now:

http://www.wbaltv.com/cnn-news/17610121/detail.html

[Elaine]

Read the first part of the article:

FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. -- Dog owners in Frederick County won't be able to keep their pets tied up for longer than 10 hours a day because of a new anti-chaining law that went into effect Thursday.

Like many of us, I get a bit wary of all the new regulations that pop up all over the place, telling me I can’t do this or I must do that… but it’s hard to imagine that anyone would be in opposition to this kind of ordinance. If you have no interest in your dog, or so little interest that you leave him tied even 10 hours a day… for Pete’s sake , don’t own a dog.

[Athy]

Agreed! Being tethered for extended periods of time makes them so aggressive - their frustration level just gets out of control.

If nothing else, it will give the neighbors of those who tether dogs an ordinance to refer to when calling Animal Control.

[Lou's mom]

One of the provisions in Albuquerque's animal legislation is similar, with an 8 hour limit.

Doesn't change the fact that pit bulls (and other's) are chained 24/7 all over town. :mad:

[mosso]

ya know, if tethering makes dogs aggressive, how do you explain mushers and hunt trainers being able to maintain dogs via tethering without creating aggressive dogs?

(what study or paper supports that dogs are made aggressive by tying out?)

I lived in Northern Maine - basically, you had the option of tying out or um tying out. granted, Frederick County, Maine doesn't see snowfall like we did in Northern Maine, but...

stir

[Athy]

Here ya go, Stir. You can google +tethering +dogs +aggression and quite a few references pop up.

<<Chaining results in aggression (26-28% of dogs involved in fatal attacks were chained at the time).

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association: Dog Bite Related Fatalities from 1979 through 1988 by J. Sacks. R. W. Sattin, & S. E. Bonzo. Volume 262, pages 1489-1492.
Chaining or tethering has been declared illegal in many communities. See Current Legislation on Tethering Dogs from www.HelpingAnimals.com, and Dogs Deserve Better, a website that advocates against chaining and penning dogs. California was the first state in the nation to prohibit chaining (click here to read the law), and other states have anti-chaining laws (see, for example, Texas).
Chaining also is inhumane. The Facts About Chaining or Tethering Dogs by the Humane Society of the USA. >>

[pretty dobe]

Agree Elaine.... Anyone that lets their dogs staked for hours has no reason to have a dog. Out here in Phoenix your good breeders have a rule...No fence, no dog... Require prospective owners to provide proof of fence or visits the property. I personally feel it is a good rule to go by no matter where you live. It is a cheap price to pay for the safety and well being of your dog.

Judie