February 7, 2022–1:13 p.m.
FLOYD COUNTY PUBLIC ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICE
Did you know that Floyd County recently passed a new ordinance prohibiting unattended tethering? You may have seen this advertised on your recent water bills.
This ordinance became live on February 1, 2022. Those who fail to come into compliance could be issued a summons to appear in court, and could also face a fine not to exceed $1,300 per charge and/or 60 days in jail.
Resources are available for Floyd County residents currently on assistance. If you are needing help, please fill out a form by visiting https://www.floydcountyga.gov/animal-control/page/forms and filling out a Pet Aide Assistance Application. These resources are made possible by local animal welfare organizations (supplies are limited).
Sec. 2-5.21- Keeping domestic animals and livestock under control.
(a) Except as outlined in paragraph (b) below, an owner of a domestic animal or livestock must ensure that such animal is not tethered, whether by chain, rope, tie leash, or other fastener, whether inside a structure or a vehicle or outdoors, to anything, including, but not limited to, any doghouse, tree, fence, other animal, vehicle, runner, railing, house, or furniture.
(b) A domestic animal or livestock may only be tethered if such tethering is on a temporary basis while the animal is attended by its owner, and if the tether is attached to a properly fitted harness or collar.
(c) The following are not permitted at any time when tethering an animal, regardless of whether the animal is attended by its owner or not:
(1) Use of a choke, prong, martingale, or similar collar;
(2) Wrapping the tether directly around the animal’s neck;
(3) Use of a tether that, including all collars, harnesses, weights, locks, and other tethering accessories that have their weight borne by the animal, weighs more than five percent of the body weight of the animal;
(4) Use of a tether that restricts the animal’s range of movement to less than the greater of five feet and one-and-one half times the length of the animal’s body, whether such restriction is due to (i) the length of the tether, (ii) the height at which the tether is attached to a thing, or (v) other circumstances reducing the animal’s range of movement;
(5) Use of a tether that places any animal within any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public place;
(6) Confinement in an outside compartment of a running vehicle;
(7) Confinement in an inside compartment of a running vehicle when the tether is attached to the animal’s collar and any part of the vehicle.
