Spartanburg County Might Limit Use of Chains With Dogs
www.myrtlebeachonline.com
May 23, 2005, SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Spartanburg County Council may consider an ordinance to limit the use of tethering dogs with chains, following the third fatal dog mauling in two years.
Chained dogs are a significant safety risk, said Don Arnold, director of the county's environmental enforcement office.
Three children have been killed by chained dogs since 2003.
Arnold is writing an ordinance to restrict the chaining of dogs to short periods of time and give police the authority to go after those who fail to comply.
Councilman David Britt said the issue should be addressed as soon as possible.
Other council members worry that enacting such an ordinance would force residents to build fences for the animals.
"I don't like to see an animal chained," said council Chairman Jeff Horton, "but I'm not in favor at this point of making people fence in their yards if they have animals."
Arnold said he wants council to enact something that would be enforceable. Some communities ordinances have clauses that forbid a dog from being chained more than three hours without a three-hour break. Arnold said animal control officers would have a tough time proving the time elements.
