Anti-Tethering Ordinance Under Consideration Today by Hillsborough County Commission

A Riverview resident is leading a crusade to prevent dogs from being chained outside for hours on end.

At the urging of Barbara LaPresti of Riverview, the Hillsborough County Commission will consider an anti-tethering ordinance today. The ordinance would make it illegal for pet owners to chain their dogs outside for more than 30 minutes at a time.

LaPresti said she was motivated after watching her neighbor's pit bull in Riverview tethered on a short chain outdoors in the sweltering heat and pouring rain.

She said she contacted Animal Services four times to complain but was told Animal Services officers had no authority to remove an animal simply because it was chained outside.

That led LaPresti to launch an anti-tethering campaign, collecting signatures on a petition in the hopes of convincing county commissioners to pass an ordinance similar to one in Pinellas County.

LaPresti wants tethering to be outlawed unless:

(1) The canine is in visual range of the responsible party, and the responsible party is located outside with the canine.

(2) The tether is connected to the canine by a buckle-type collar or a body harness made of nylon or leather, not less than one inch in width.

(3) The tether has the following properties: it is at least five times the length of the canine’s body, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.

(4) The canine is tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement.

(5) The canine is not outside during a period of extreme weather, including without limitation extreme heat or near-freezing temperatures, thunderstorms, tornadoes, tropical storms, or hurricanes.

(6) The canine has access to water, shelter, and dry ground.

(7) The canine is at least 6 months of age. Puppies shall not be tethered.

(8) The canine is not sick or injured.

(9) If there are multiple canines, each canine is tethered separately.

"Permanent tethering of a dog is not only cruel and inhumane, but it creates aggression in dogs and, therefore, promotes dangerous environments for our community members," said LaPresti in her petition. "The ASPCA reports 81 percent of fatal dog attacks involve dogs that are isolated.

LaPresti said tethered dogs suffer with hunger from sporadic feedings, overturned water bowls, little to no exercise or regular socialization.

"Chained dogs spend their entire lives eating, sleeping, urinating and defecating in a single confined area," she said. "They are exposed to extreme temperatures such as cold, heat and rain; flea and tick infestation; heartworm disease; snakes, bugs, rodents and a magnitude of other parasites."

In addition, the chains themselves can injure the dogs, she said.

"Typical of a chained dog is severe laceration to the neck where the collar has become imbedded," she said.

Barbara LaPresti’s petition can be accessed at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/antitethering.