Council Signs off on Dog Tethering Restrictions

12.16.2009 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Salt Lake County residents could soon be issued a citation for keeping a dog chained up outside for more than 10 hours a day or in extreme hot or cold weather. The County Council gave preliminary approval to such an ordinance Tuesday. Utah Humane Society Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt says it promotes awareness about the humane treatment of animals.

“There really isn’t anything that can be done about it right now because there aren’t any laws on the books, so we think it’s important that people are not allowed to tether their dogs 24 hours around the clock, especially in really harsh weather in the winter or the summer,” he told KCPW.

Baierschmidt says there were 38 complaints over the past year about dogs tethered outside all day, which would be prohibited. But the new ordinance does carve out some exemptions.  It allows dogs to be restrained on a running line.  And they can be chained up if animal control has requested the dog be tethered, or the owner has received a waiver.

Council Chairman Joe Hatch says the response from his constituents has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The response that I get from people for bringing this forward is so overwhelming. I don’t think there’s anything I’ve done in the nine years I’ve been on the council where I’ve gotten more positive comments,” he said.

However, Hatch says there have been concerns that the new ordinance will increase animal patrols that will invade dog owners’ privacy. But he believes the citations will be driven primarily by complaints from neighbors.  The ordinance would only apply to unincorporated areas of the county.