CITY MAKES TETHERING DOGS FOR LONG ILLEGAL.Byline: Dan Laidman Staff Writer Dog owners who keep their pets tethered Attached to a data or power source by wire or fiber. Contrast with untethered. or outdoors for long periods of time could face fines or jail time under a city law approved Wednesday. The Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. unanimously approved the ordinance imposing the new requirements after the city Animal Services Department decided to act on complaints about mistreated animals, said spokeswoman Karen Knipscheer. ``State law isn't really clear on food, water, shelter and tethering, and that's why we decided to be really clear on it,'' she said. The new ordinance prohibits owners from tying dogs to structures or immobile im·mo·bile adj. 1. Immovable; fixed. 2. Not moving; motionless. im  mo·bil objects unless it is to allow the animal's caretaker ``to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be physically restrained for a reasonable period.'' The ordinance also says owners must periodically monitor the dog and ensure it has access to food, water and shelter, while also using a tether tether to tie an animal up by the head or neck so that it can graze but not move away. See also barton tether. of a certain length. Stephanie Shain, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society A humane society is a group that aims to stop animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons. Examples Examples of humane societies include: The Humane Society of the United States, Peninsula Humane Society, American Humane which was founded in 1877 as a network of , said she supported the measure, but questioned whether it could be difficult to enforce because it doesn't have a specific time limit on tethering. Shain was pleased with a more-specific portion of the ordinance that prohibits owners from leaving their dogs outside without access to an enclosed building or doghouse that meets criteria like weatherproofing and cleanliness Cleanliness See also Orderliness. Cleverness (See CUNNING.) Berchta unkempt herself, demands cleanliness from others, especially children. [Ger. Folklore: Leach, 137] cat continually “washes” itself. . The ordinance also demands that owners provide dogs with access to fresh water and food, and bars them from using cages that are too small. The City Attorney's Office will decide whether to pursue violations as infractions - which could carry $250 fines - or as misdemeanors, which could result in $1,000 fines and jail terms of up to six months. Knipscheer, the Animal Services spokeswoman, said Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. is the first large city to pass such an ordinance. Shain of the Humane Society said she has seen other municipalities approve similar measures because of growing awareness that tethered dogs are more likely to bite. ``Communities are really looking at this chaining and tethering issue as something that they've got to address,'' she said. Dan Laidman, (213) 978-0390 dan.laidman(at)dailynews.com |
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