February 26th / 28th, 2010
"Tether People, Not Pets"
I realize that not everyone loves dogs as much as I do, but for the life
of me, I've never understood why someone would buy or adopt a pet, then tie
him up in the backyard all day. Tethering is abuse, pure and simple, and it
looks like officials in one Triad community are finally coming to grips
with that fact. Exactly how they're going about it, however, gives me pause.
The Forsyth County Animal Control Advisory Board is in the process of
taking public comments on whether to recommend to the County Commissioners a
ban on tethering dogs. Such a recommendation wouldn't be forthcoming until
April, and might be accompanied by a plan for phasing in the ban over a two
year period, so that dog owners who tie their pets can be educated.
First of all, the animal control folks shouldn't even have to think about
whether a tether ban has merit, nor should public comment be necessary.
That's because
the Advisory Board already has in hand studies and reports that prove
tethering is dangerous to both animals and humans. For example, Forsyth's
Director of Animal Control, Tim Jennings, cited a recent national study that
shows fatalities have occurred due to tethering, especially involving young
children who wander into a area where a dog has been tied. Meanwhile, the
Advisory Board is also aware that tethering causes a plethora of other
problems as well, including making otherwise docile dogs hyper and vicious.
Most humans with a functioning brain understand that tethering a dog is a
bad thing, so why debate the issue? Maybe we should also have a debate on
whether stop lights prevent accidents at intersections. Or perhaps we should
seek public comment on whether it's OK to pump gas while smoking a
cigarette. I'm sorry, but it is just unbelievable to me that an advisory board for
animal control is taking several months to formulate a recommendation on
whether a dog should be tied to a tree 24/7.
And then there's the so-called phase-in plan which is being proffered as a
way to educate dog owners who currently tether their dog. Even Waldo could
find the oxymoron in this scenario. Come on folks! Anyone who is stupid
enough and cruel enough to keep their dog tied, cannot be educated.
Moreover, a 24 month transition period isn't going to make them less cruel
individuals, but it will certainly prolong the dogs' agony. I can just imagine what
would have happened if, during debate on drunk driving laws, state
legislators had recommended a two year phase-in period to allow people who
serially drive drunk to get educated about driving drunk. The offending parties
aren't going to stop drinking and driving during that transition because
driving drunk is what they do for a living.
Moreover, a transition period is only going to bring more pain and
suffering to victims until the law goes into effect. Tethering is the same way. If
something is wrong and dangerous, then it should be banned immediately,
not 24 months from now.
Of course, the effective date of a ban may be moot, because the ban itself
must first be adopted by the County Commissioners, and they don't have a
very good track record of late when it comes to progressive thinking. This
is a board who is fighting to force Christian prayer on everyone within
earshot of their meetings. In other words, they are tethered to dogma, so
tethering a dog probably doesn't concern them. Looking on the bright side,
though, these Old Testament thinkers might decide to amend the ban to include
some good old fashioned 'eye for an eye' retribution. For example, we could
punish tether offenders by simply tying them to a tree with a short chain.
Regardless of possible phase-ins and penalties for non compliance,
however, if a tethering ban is eventually approved, county officials must then
deal with collateral issues, like requiring dog owners to erect a fence, or
else keep their pet in the house. That, in turn, will probably trigger a
whole new series of hearings and debates. But first things first. County
officials must move quickly to break the "ties that bind" between cruel pet
owners and their abused dogs. Tethering is an archaic form of confinement and an
uncivilized concept. It's high time we as a society untangle ourselves
from it.
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