Rockmart considering new dog-tethering law

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Higdon, Alabama, woman for the false report of a crime that led to an officer involved shooting. According to the GBI report: On Jan. 1, 2018, at approximately 3:15 a.m., deputies with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office responded to 147 Meadowview Lane after receiving a 911 call from Dorothy Marie Gass, 65. Dorothy Gass reported that her daughter-in-law, Amy Gass, was going to kill her children and then kill herself.

When deputies responded to the residence they made contact with Amy Gass’ father, Mark Steven Parkinson, who had a handgun. During the encounter, Parkinson pointed the weapon at a deputy, who then shot Parkinson. Parkinson died from his wounds.

On the same date, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate an officer involved shooting that resulted in the death of Parkinson, age 65.

The GBI’s investigation found no evidence that Amy Gass threatened her children or herself.

Dorothy Gass was charged with one misdemeanor count of false report of a crime. Dorothy Gass turned herself into the Walker County Jail where she was released on her own recognizance.

From staff reports

ROCKMART — The concept of a tethering ordinance has been a hot-button issue for several months, and locals are continuing to voice their thoughts on whether or not citizens should be allowed to tie and restrain their animals for long periods of time.

Cedartown is currently the only local entity that has outlawed the permanent outdoor tethering of animals, but Aragon’s own version of the ordinance is currently in the works and set to be approved.

Rockmart, however, has yet to implement any tethering policies despite looking into the idea last year.

Temporarily restraining an animal is still legal anywhere in Polk County, but the ordinance prohibits lengthy and permanent tying in hopes that “all domestic animals shall be provided with a safe and sanitary confinement area constructed to confine the animal, to protect the animal from injury, and of a sufficient space to allow for adequate exercise suitable to the age, size, species and breed of animal. The area shall have a means to rapidly eliminate excess water and minimize mud.”

For many, the tethering ordinance is a preemptive measure to protect the animals. The new ordinance could potentially allow for quicker intervention when an animal appears to be suffering due to tethering, but without the new laws, the most a citizen could do is inform animal control.

Those in favor of laxer tethering rules believe the new laws are an inconvenience and sometimes unnecessary.