LELAND — Annoyed neighbors and lonely dogs may soon get relief. Leland is considering a tethering ordinance; though town council took no immediate action.
Town Council discussed the potential ordinance, also known as an anti-chaining ordinance, on Monday.
Tethering, the act of restraining a dog by rope or chain for an extended period of time, has been a contentious issue in surrounding counties.
Restraining dogs by “ropes, chains and the like are prohibited for any purpose” in New Hanover County. New Hanover County’s version of a tethering ordinance has been enforced since December 2010.
Intended to protect the well-being of animals, tethering ordinances aim to prevent bored, lonely and anxious dogs from being chained outdoors while their owner is away. Dogs are inherently social animals, and when left chained, can develop aggressive behaviors according to the Humane Society.
In addition to protecting animals, the ordinance may also mitigate a public nuisance. Dogs left chained and alone for hours may bark incessantly, causing a disturbance in a neighborhood and prompting calls to law enforcement.
Sometimes, barking is not the only problem. Compared to non-chained dogs, dogs that are chained are 2.8 times more likely to bite and 5.4 times more likely to bite children under the age of 12 according to the Center for Disease Control.
The ordinance could protect or serve as an additional means of punishing those accused of animal cruelty. In July, two Brunswick County men were charged with animal cruelty. One of the dogs in their possession had been tethered to a 60 pound chain.
A grassroots effort to ban tethering in Brunswick County in August, which garnered over 4,700 signatures, ultimately proved fruitless.
After considering public opinion on the issue, Brunswick County decided against adopting a tethering ordinance. The county found their existing animal cruelty laws to be sufficient when applied properly.
“The County does not feel that an additional ordinance is the answer,” the county website states.
Though council did not choose to vote on the issue this week, it may look into it again in the future. David Hollis, Town Manager of Leland, said the issue would be discussed again in the new year.
“Council asked staff to research the issue more and report back after the new year,” Hollis wrote in a statement.
Johanna Ferebee can be reached at [email protected] or @j__ferebee on Twitter
