Wavy.com has a story on a set of proposed rules in Chesapeake, Virginia, that would limit the amount of time one could leave a dog tethered outdoors.
According to the news outlet, Chesapeake City Council is considering passing new regulations that make it illegal to tether a dog unattended for more than an hour outside, and mandate that a dog’s leash must be at least three times the length of its body.
The rules would also forbid one’s tethering of dogs six months or younger, as well as dogs in heat. If a pet owner violated these laws, he or she would face $250 in fines. The nearby cities of Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and Norfolk have already limited tethering to three hours per day, and the cities of Hampton and Suffolk have already banned the practice.
Last year I wrote about the tendency for tethered dogs to become aggressive and vicious; studies have shown that tying a dog up for too long can create dangerous tendencies in the animal. If the new rules will lead to less vicious dogs in the city, then it is worth it. Dog bites are terrible, potentially fatal injuries that can change lives forever, and we should be working towards ensuring that there are less vicious dogs, and less chances for devastating dog attacks, whenever we can.
I operate a personal injury law firm in Norfolk, which is near Chesapeake, and I have seen enough dog bite cases to know how awful they can be. My attorneys and I specialize in handling cases for dog bite victims, and we know how to fight for our clients against negligent pet owners who should have taken better care of their animals. If you were attacked by a vicious animal through no fault of your own, let us help you—it is not your fault, and the medical bills should not be yours to pay.
