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NO-CHAIN
ORDINANCE
July - August 2007
The Montclair Township Council is considering an ordinance that would limit
the amount of time dogs in Montclair can be chained or tethered. There will
be a public hearing in the Town Council Chambers on August 7 to discuss the
ordinance. If you cannot be there, please contact the Town Council members
now and let them know you support an ordinance to limit the time an animal
can be chained or tethered in Montclair.
Chaining or tethering refers to the practice of fastening an animal to a stationary
object or stake, usually in the owner’s yard, as a means of keeping the
animal under control or confined to the property. According to the New Jersey
Animal Welfare Task Force Report published in 2004, the advantages of banning
or limiting the chaining or tethering of dogs are apparent. Such measures would
substantially reduce the high volume of calls to animal control and the police
regarding the plight of chained dogs and complaints from annoyed neighbors
over the incessant barking of a tethered dog. In addition, the public safety
will be enhanced since dogs that are chained often become aggressive.
Authoritative animal welfare organizations agree that the continuous chaining
or tethering of dogs is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined
dog, other animals, and humans.
Why inhumane?
1. |
Rarely
do these dogs receive proper care – adequate
food, water, or veterinary attention. They rarely have
protection from rain, snow, sun, heat, and cold. |
2. |
Since
these dogs eat, sleep, urinate, and defecate in the
same small area, it is normally a filthy, unhealthy
existence. |
3. |
In
many cases, the necks of these dogs become raw and
covered with sores from collars that are too tight
and from the constant yanking and straining to escape
their confinement. Often the chain becomes tangled
and restricts the dog’s movement even more. |
4. |
Tethered
dogs cannot protect themselves from other animals,
insects, or harassment from insensitive humans. |
5. |
The
continuous chaining or tethering of a dog is a key
contributor to poor socialization, as dogs subjected
to excessive chaining tend to bark excessively and
often suffer great psychological damage. Dogs are naturally
social beings and the isolation is just plain cruel.
Often these dogs bark constantly for attention which
then leads to complaints to the police. |
6. |
The
United States Department of Agriculture published the
following information in the Federal Register: |
“Our experience in enforcing the Animal Welfare
Act has led us to conclude that continuous confinement
of dogs by a tether is inhumane. A tether significantly
restricts a dog’s movement. A tether can also become
tangled around or hooked on the dog’s shelter structure
or other objects, further restricting the dog’s movement
and potentially causing injury.”
Why dangerous?
1.
|
Dogs
tethered for long periods of time often become highly
aggressive. Tethered dogs, unable to take flight, become
territorial and fearful and are likely to attack any
unfamiliar person or animal who approaches. |
2.
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In
2000, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
issued a study in its Journal stating that “17%
of dogs involved in fatal attacks on humans between
1979 and 1998 were restrained on their owners property
at the time of the attack. Many of these attacks involved
children.” |
Many cities and towns across the country have ordinances
limiting the time that dogs can be tethered or prohibiting
the tethering of dogs at all. Several New Jersey towns,
including Nutley, Camden, Wildwood, Sea Isle City, and
Bloomingdale, limit the tethering of dogs. The state of
California recently passed a law prohibiting the tethering
of dogs for any amount of time.
Montclair’s animal control officer, Melissa Neiss,
stated that many of the complaints she receives are regarding
tethered dogs and that the ordinance being considered by
Montclair will give her a tool to make her more effective.
It’s time to take action in Montclair to enhance
public safety, reduce complaints, and protect the dogs.
. . . . . . . . . |
