"The Guilford County Board of Commissioners adopted an animal ordinance that prohibits the unattended tethering/chaining of dogs in Guilford County effective March 1, 2014. Residents have 12 months to comply with this ordinance. Unattended tethering is PROHIBITED in all municipalities and areas within Guilford County except within the city limits of Gibsonville and High Point where local ordinances apply.
Unattended tethering/chaining is restraining a dog with a chain, cable, wire or other device to a tree, post or similar object without its owner present while the dog is tethering or chained. Walking your dog on a leash or being outside while your dog is tethered or chained is allowed in this ordinance.
This new ordinance is designed to improve public safety issues, reduce unwanted litters of puppies, provide increased safety and humane treatment of dogs and reduce accidental choking of dogs from unattended tethering or chaining.
The timeline for this ordinance is as follows:
March 1, 2014 to March 1, 2015 is a one year education and outreach program to inform the community of ordinance changes and provide assistance or information on available resources. No citations will be issued.
March 1, 2014 to September 1, 2014 is a six month period where written warnings for lack of compliance will be issued but no civil penalties will be imposed.
After September 1, 2015, full enforcement will begin and civil penalties will be issued.
Training your dog to be an inside dog, installing a dog pen outside your home, building a fence around your yard or remaining outside with your dog when it is being tethered or chained are safe alternatives to unattended tethering or chaining.
For more information about the ordinance, contact Guilford County Animal Control at 336-641-5990 or visit www.guilfordhealth.org. Information is also available on the Guilford County website at www.co.guilford.nc.us"
A Press Release
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