New animal tethering ordinance in Norfolk

New rules about tethering dogs and other animals in the yard have gone into effect in Norfolk. An ordinance has been announced that limits the amount of time a pet can be chained up outside. Reports say pet owners are now limited to just one hour per day to tether their dogs - down from a previous stipulation of three hours for every 24. Hampton, Portsmouth and Suffolk have made similar updates to their rules recently.

Animal tethering critics have long touted the negative effective chaining up your pet could potentially have. Because dogs are social creatures, limiting them to one spot with limited interactions with humans or other animals could cause the dog to become unhappy, anxious and aggressive. Too often, they can become tangled in their own leash, preventing them access to food, water and shade from the elements.

Dogs that have been tethered too long present a hazard to humans, too. When dogs feel a human is trespassing onto their territory, they can become aggressive and violent. An article from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 17% of dogs involved in fatal attacks in the years between 1979 and 1998 were indeed chained in their own yards. Sadly, children are most often victims of such attacks, as they see a dog and approach it hoping to pet or play with the animal without realizing how aggressive it might be.

Be sure to keep your dog out of the elements and off tethers and chains for extended periods of time. Both you and your pet will be guaranteed a happier, safer experience.

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