NEWPORT NEWS TO RESIDENTS: WATCH YOUR DOGS
Pet owners can no longer tether their canines and leave them unattended
Dog owners in Newport News can no longer tether their dogs and leave them unattended, a change from the rule that allowed unattended tethering for one hour.
The Newport News City Council voted June 22 to make that change. Councilman Dave Jenkins suggested the change, which received support from representatives of PETA and other local animal-rights activists.
Initially, the council discussed in March a complete ban on tethering, but Mayor McKinley Price suggested a ban on unattended tethering, saying a dog owner washing a car or doing something outside should be able to put their dog on a leash and tie that leash to something nearby, pointing out that many people don’t have fences to keep a dog in their yard.
He also was concerned a complete ban on tethering
could lead to more dogs getting loose.
Parks and recreation staff and other members of council voiced agreement to ban unattended tethering.
Parks and recreation staff said the one-hour tethering rule was difficult to enforce because of staffing levels and because an animal control officer would need to observe a dog being tethered without an owner present for the full hour to enforce the rule. Additionally, an owner could leave a dog tethered for hours at a time, attend to the animal occasionally and not be in violation of the one hour rule.
The city enacted a one hour limit to unattended tethering in 2014. Michael Poplawski, the city’s parks and recreation director, said in the past five years, there were 306 tethering complaints and 11 summonses.
Poplawski said excessive tethering of a dog could cause the animal to become anxious or aggressive, and the dog could be injured if it consistently pulls on the collar or if the tether gets tangled or shortened. Advocates for a change to the policy voiced similar concerns, especially for dogs tethered on hot days.
Before the council voted, Price asked City Manager Cindy Rohlf if animal control could make exceptions in extenuating circumstances. He provided the example of a “little old lady with no fence and has a dog that she loves” letting her dog out on a tether to get exercise as she washes dishes in her house with her pet in view.
Rohlf said animal control officers who have responded to situations like that typically take an educational approach at first, but if the behavior continues they shift to enforcement. Previously, Poplawski said animal control officers typically don’t issue a ticket or summons on the first tethering offense.