Ordinance on Dog Tethering Approved
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November 30, 2006 - CARROLL COUNTY, MARYLAND - The Carroll Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday to limit the amount of time dogs can be chained outside.
The ordinance, which will take effect by Friday, will not allow dogs to be chained for more than 12 hours a day, County Attorney Kimberly Millender said Tuesday. ‘‘We have to advertise notice of the adoption in the papers and then record it, and then it will take effect,” she said.
The change was sparked by dog owners’ mistreatment of their animals and the number of complaints the Humane Society of Carroll County has received over time, said Nicky Ratliff, executive director of the Humane Society of Carroll County.
Ratliff said she was thrilled with the new ordinance. ‘‘I wanted proper care to be put in writing, so it’s not just someone’s opinion,” she said. ‘‘We’ve given people something to look at so they can easily comply.”
The ordinance will ban residents from tethering dogs for more than 12 hours a day, and at no time between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The ordinance also states that a dog’s tether must be at least four-and-a-half times the dog’s length, but no less than 10 feet long.
The ordinance also includes shelter requirements for dogs kept outside during winter, and calls for shade during the summer. The rules even apply to dogs kept in a basement or garage.
‘‘People can have a dog kenneled or put it in the basement or garage, but they would have to have a doghouse because it wouldn’t be warm enough,” Ratliff said.
Ratliff said she anticipates the ordinance will help curb complaints from residents about dogs suffering neglect and being exposed to the elements for long periods of time.
‘‘[Residents] have been very upset about this, and I think it’s really going to help a lot of animals out there that need it,” she said. ‘‘I also think it’s going to help a lot of [residents] who live next door to people who have chained their dogs up outside at all hours in all weather.”
Residents found violating the ordinance will be issued a warning, advised of the law, and told how to comply. They can be fined if they continue to disobey the ordinance. The initial fine will be $25 to $40, but it could go as high as $500, Ratliff said.
‘‘There will be a reasonable amount of time to comply given to residents, so long as it’s not 30 degrees outside,” she said.
The ordinance also includes increases in licensing and permit fees. If a dog has been spayed or neutered, the cost is $5, or $3 for senior citizens. If a dog has not been spayed or neutered, the cost will be $25, or $10 for senior citizens.
‘‘There needs to be an incentive for people having their dog spayed,” Ratliff said. ‘‘People are to be congratulated for that.”
The county looked to the public for comments and input at a public hearing in July, and the majority of residents supported the ordinance.
Commissioner Julia Gouge (R) said the board ‘‘felt that at the July public hearing, the great majority were concerned.”
‘‘If there’s cruelty to animals by keeping them chained, we as a board have the ability to do something about it,” Gouge said. ‘‘This allows the Humane Society the ability to take care of animals who are mistreated.”
