Tying dog up for hours now illegal in Frederick Co.

A new Frederick County anti-chaining law for dogs went into effect today.

The ordinance prevents dog owners from keeping their pets chained or tied up outside for more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period.

Frederick County Animal Control Division Director Harold Domer is asking citizens who see a dog tethered for more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period to document their observations and report it to animal control.

They should write down the specific times the dog was tethered, he said.

Owners found in violation for chaining or tethering will be given a 30-day grace period to set up new accommodations for their pet.

If they are still in violation after 30 days, animal control officers will issue a civil citation. The person who witnessed the tethering may need to come to court to testify, since animal control officers will likely not have seen the chaining themselves for the entire 10 hours or more.

Instead of tethering their dogs, pet owners can build an appropriately sized outdoor enclosure, keep adult dogs in a crate while they are out of the house, or find a suitable indoor space like a room with a linoleum floor, Domer said.

"There are many many options that people can seek for removing them from a chain so they are not tethered," Domer said.

Dog owners are permitted to keep dogs outside in kennels if they provide proper shelter, food and water.

The ordinance requires a minimum of 100 square feet for a single dog in an outdoor enclosure. If the dog weighs more than 75 pounds, the law requires an additional 50 square feet. Pet owners who have more than one dog will need 75 square feet for each additional dog.

Pet owners face a $50 fine for the first violation, $75 for a second and $100 for third and subsequent violations. Animal control officers also have the ability to seize dogs.

The ordinance also defines shelter and food, water, and medical requirements for dogs.

It does not apply to the City of Frederick, which has its own animal welfare laws.

Copyright 2008 The Frederick News-Post. All rights reserved.