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June 5, 2014Terrebonne Parish councilmembers are proposing an ordinance to deter dogs from being tethered outdoors between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in order to reduce noise complaints and provide socialization to the animals.
The council will hold a public hearing to also consider additional changes regarding the humane restraint of animals at 6:30 p.m. on July 9 in the council meeting room on the second floor of the government complex.
Many of the articles in the proposed ordinance contain technical details about the length and weight of a tethering device. The concept is to implement a trolley device that would allow animals to roam at least 15 feet in order to provide them with more freedom as opposed to being tied to a tree or a pole with rope.
The newest proposed ordinance would require dogs to be removed from their tethering device at night and allowed to roam free in a fenced yard or an indoor shelter.
Valerie Robinson, animal shelter manager, said the new law would allow dogs who are tied up for the majority of the day to receive socialization with humans.
“It forces them as pet owners who do have their animals tethered to remove their animal and change that scene for that animal,” she said. “Even it’s for a small amount of time, that change of scenery does a whole lot for the mental status that decreases severely when it’s constantly on the end of a chain and it cannot get anywhere past the end of that chain.”
Robinson said the alternatives for anyone who does not have a fenced in yard would be to fence in the area or bring the animal indoors.
“By forcing someone to remove their animal for those hours, it reduces the number of noise complaints law enforcement has to deal with because of barking dogs waking those generally sleeping,” Robinson said.
Anyone who does not remove their animal from the tethering device at night would be fined $100 for their first offense and $200 for their second offense and offenses following.
Councilwoman Beryl Amedee said the changes would create a big change for the lifestyle of the pet, as well as the owner.
“This would mean the dogs that I’m aware of who live seven days a week, 24 hours a day currently chained outdoors in the elements, they would need to be brought in every night,” Amedee said.
The proposed ordinance also requires dogs that are on the trolley system to be at least 4 years old and neutered or spayed, “unless the dog is tethered within another secured enclosure as a primary means of restraint.”
Although the council cannot enforce restrictions upon apartment complexes, Councilman John Navy said the parish wants to provide information to those complex owners to pass along to their tenants.
“I really hope we can get some literature or information out to these apartment complexes to have them bring about more awareness to the tenants they have,” he said. “Although we can’t legislate anything at any of these apartment complexes, we want to bring about awareness.”
The council is also considering increasing the fee for pet owners who violate the restriction of keeping a dangerous dog from $300 to $500.
Robinson said the fees act as a deterrent for people who cannot commit to restricting their pet.
“You have to be fairly willing to own a dog that has done something to be considered dangerous,” she said. “You have to be willing to pay for it and you have to be willing to be responsible for it.”
“It’s a good start for some of the laws we are lacking in Terrebonne Parish,” the shelter manager added.
Councilman Greg Hood agreed and commented pet owners should be held responsible for their animal’s actions.
“The bottom line with this ordinance and everything else, if you don’t know how to handle a dog, you don’t know how to take care of a dog, you don’t need a dog,” he said. “Bottom line. The law is the law and I think owners should be punished for it.”
