Chaining all pets would draw fine under Senate bill

A Senate bill that makes it illegal to tether a dog for more than three hours a day was expanded Wednesday to include all animals.

On second reading senators approved a committee amendment asking for the change, before Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, asked to carry the bill over for more study.

"Cruelty is cruelty," said Sen. Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, who explained the amendment to his colleagues."Why put dogs on a pedestal?"

The passed amendment also distinguishes between intentional tethering, chaining, or tying of animals versus incidental restraining beyond the stipulated time limit, which carries a misdemeanor penalty under the bill.

Comments

[Monica Schreiber]

Kudos to South Carolina for following the national trend and recognizing that chaining a dog (indeed, any animal) by its neck for its life is an antiquated and barbaric practice, one that is inhumane and inherently abusive. It is also dangerous, not only to the dogs, who often hang themselves on their thethers or spend days or weeks able to move only a few inches, but also to people, as perpetually chained dogs often become neurotic or aggressive.
Learn more at www.dogsdeservebetter.org and www.mothersagainstdogchaining.org

Anti-tether laws are not perfect, but they are a critical tool in an animal control officer's arsenal in order to combat truly abusive situations that simply are not covered by existing animal welfare laws.

[Andy Highland]

While I agree with the intent of the law, slight wording changes are needed to allow for temporary tethering under close (within 20') reach and supervision of responsible person/s, for purposes of animal safety, during activities such as over-night camping trips and similar. This would allow for pack-animals to be high-lined and pets secured with caretaker in direct attendance.

[Carolyn Eddy]

While I certainly agree with the idea of not allowing chaining as a long term situation, there does need to be leeway regarding camping, showing, transporting, etc., of animals. In these situations, not allowing for tying would create seriously dangerous problems for animals, handlers and bystanders.

Sometimes tying is necessary for safety. I believe that the writers of this bill have not looked at the whole picutre and that the bill needs to be re-written to allow for these situations.

You might consider contacting the North American Packgoat Association for help in writing guidelines that make more sense than just a blanket restriction.
www.NAPgA.org

Sincerely,
Carolyn Eddy
Eagle Creek Publishing Group

[James & Jennifer Hill, Goatberry Farm]

I am sure it wasn't your intention to make legislation which would put the safety of animals at risk. There are instances where pets or livestock must be restrained & tying is the best solution.
Please get further input from responsible agencies such as NAPgA for the packgoat world & other organizations for horses, llamas, dogs, etc.
Yours, Jim & Jennifer Hill

[steve morgan]

I can't believe that you have put much thought into what you propose.How could I tether my 6 goats out to feed without some kind of restraint? The large dog that I own is on a double cable that gives it lots of freedom to run, much more than any pen that I could maintain.Would you rather I keep them in my house? Or would you like to see them all running around free, to get hit by a car or to go free to do what ever they want? Are you somehow bowing to the radicle animal rigts groups belief that none of us should even have or use animals for anything? Every case of cruelty shoud be delt with individualy, NOT WITH A BLANKET LAW AS YOU PROPOSE. Get real, go out and see what goes on in the rest of our world.You pass this law as written and you won't be in office long.

[steve morgan]

I can't believe that you have put much thought into what you propose.How could I tether my 6 goats out to feed without some kind of restraint? The large dog that I own is on a double cable that gives it lots of freedom to run, much more than any pen that I could maintain.Would you rather I keep them in my house? Or would you like to see them all running around free, to get hit by a car or to go free to do what ever they want? Are you somehow bowing to the radicle animal rigts groups belief that none of us should even have or use animals for anything? Every case of cruelty shoud be delt with individualy, NOT WITH A BLANKET LAW AS YOU PROPOSE. Get real, go out and see what goes on in the rest of our world.You pass this law as written and you won't be in office long.

[Terri Summerfield]

Many recreationalist use animals for packstock. They need to be restrained in a reasonable, economic, safe way. Most backcountry people, highline or tether their animals. This is not in-humane but actually humane. It keeps them safe and prevents them from bothering other campers. This in fact, should include dogs. At camp grounds, you will not be able to fence your dog in at night or lock it in your house. The best humane way to protect it and others is to tether it during the night. Highlining animals has been used for centuries. Yes there are those that abuse animals and they should be prosecuted but laws should no be established that blanket a potentenial problem of a minor group. Your proposal is too broad and needs more research and clarity. Please reconsider this issue. Sincerely, Terri Summerfield; Northwest Pack Goats & Supplies

[Lee Alley]

You should table this bill until your legislative staff have talked with the major service animal associations, such as dogs for disabled people, veteranarians who must restrain (isolate) sick animals on a farm, owners of packstock (horses, goats, llamas, alpaca, mules), National Forest Service workers and sheriffs who use horses, et al. Perhaps one of the other states' legislative staff have done some research prior to enacting such a deceptively simple bill. Yours is not ready at all. Thank you for inviting input. Best wishes on addressing your original specific issue, whatever that was.

[Kasie Wayman]

There are times when even the most loving of animals must be resrained on a tether/chain. I generally do not restrain with tethers/chains. I do have some of my goats out in my yard at times to eat weeds when they have cleared an area it is far more convenient to move a chain than a full pen. It is also better for the goats to get a variety of weeds which requires moving them to different areas. The reason for tethering is because there are several types of ornimental plants that are poisonous to them. We have 4 packgoats that I would never dream of leaving loose in a camping area. They are far too mischeivious to be left to their own devices. They would be tangled in the lines on the tent, burned in the campfire, or worse attacked by a wild animal. That is if we have no neighboring campers, my boys love children and will gladdly run up to meet them if given the opportunity. This can be scary for someone little who is not familiar with animals. I have a brother who lives in military housing that had to restrain his 2 large breed dogs in his backyard while his fence and neighboring fences were to be fumigated and replaced because of termite damage. There is not enough room in the house for the dogs to be comfortable. I don't know how much experience you have with waiting for such things to happen. The people to do the job gave them a date, but it rained heavily for about 3 days and they were unable to finish the job for almost a full week after they had torn the fence down. The dogs were chained where they had shelter and were fine. I don't know if you have considered these problems while writing this law.
Sincerely, Kasie Wayman

[Jan Huffaker]

Although I understand that this law is an attempt to prevent cruelty by prohibitin people from keeping a dog on a chain forever, I believe it is too broad. When camping with my packgoats there are times when it is necessary to highline them for the night, and it appears this law would make that illegal. Occassional highlining is necessary for the safety of the animals, environment, and other people, and is in no way cruel to the packgoat. Please take a moment to reconsider all possible consequences before passing this law.

Respectfully, Jan Huffaker, past president North American Packgoat Association (www.napga.org)

[Lisa Mitchell]

This law is too broad, please rewrite in order to prevent animal cruelty and also allow temporary restraint for the safety of the animal and/or prevent damage to the environment especially during transport, camping, packing, emergencies, and general every day care.

Thank you
Lisa Mitchell

[Jean]

Thank you for this law. Although there may be 'loving' reasons for chaining an animal, it is still cruel if for more than 3 hours. Not only are they suffering from the chain (which usually knocks over any bowl they have), but they are at the mercy of any mean person or animal who decides to harass them. If people are concerned about roaming, or being in the road, they should consider a fence---before they consider pets.

[Larry]

I can understand the chaining of a dog from a single point could be conceived as cruel but I do not agree that chaining a dog to what I call a run is cruel. (A run is a length of chain attached to a cable, which is fixed at both ends, in a fashion that allows the chain to move the length of the cable. A properly constructed run has stops toward the end of the cable that prevents the animal from having enough room to wrap the chain around the fix points.) I have used runs in the past and know people who still use them. These runs allow the dog plenty of room to run and at the same time prevents them from injuring themselves. Properly constructed runs should be allowed under the proposed law.

[Elizabeth]

Such a law should be written to outlaw only abuse, such as neglect of a chained animal, a tight collar, no shelter, no protection from weather or enemies, no room to move. Hey, these abuses also can happen to caged or house-bound animals, not just chained animals. Many chained or tethered animals lead very happy lives, because they are not neglected. A blanket ban on tethering would endanger many more animals than it helps.