Orange County law bans chaining dogs outside during day (FL)

[soup]

>>The law was unanimously passed Tuesday night.

The law comes after 4-year-old Myles Leakes was fatally mauled in Orlando in a relative's back yard in December.

"We're trying to reduce the number of people bit by dogs," said Vanessa Bouffard-Fehl, Orange County's animal services division spokeswoman. "People should be able to walk outside without being afraid."<

>It bans chaining dogs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and fines range from $75 to $250, the Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday.<

>Palm Beach and Okaloosa Counties have similar laws.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_DOG_CHAINING_LAW_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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snips from articles about the child that was killed:

4-Year-Old Boy Fatally Mauled By Dogs In Orlando

December 9, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A 4-year-old boy died Wednesday night after he was mauled by at least one dog, believed to be a pit bull mix, and perhaps more in a relative's back yard, police said.

There were three dogs in the back yard when the boy was attacked, said Orlando Police Lt. Luis Tanzi.

At least one of the dogs attacked Myles Leakes, though more could have been involved. Two of the dogs were tied to trees and the third was roaming free in the back yard, said Sgt. Mark Preeschl.

There were several other children and adults at the home, but there were no other injuries, Preeschl said.
http://www.dogexpert.com/FatalDogAttacks/2004/FL04.htm

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>>In October, an 8-year-old Tampa boy was killed by two pit bulls in his back yard. A 5-week-old Jacksonville boy was fatally mauled by his family's pet dog that jumped on a bed and attacked him. Last December, an 81-year-old Citra woman was killed by a pack of mixed-breed pit bulls owned by a neighbor.
http://www.wtlv.net/news/florida/news-article.aspx?storyid=29316

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I personally don't like the idea of chaining dogs outside, particularly those that are chained and just left outside - What a sad life that must be for the dog. But what about people who don't have a fenced yard or any other alternative for 'potty breaks' during the day?

Doesn't this seem like a rather strange and drastic move - passing a county-wide law banning chaining a dog outside during the day because one child was attacked by dog(s) that were tied outside?

Apologies if this is the wrong forum for posting this.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Isn't it sad that they had to pass a law about this, and that pet

owners don't have enough common sense to realize how wrong and cruel this is, especially in a hot and humid place like Florida? If all you want a dog for is to have it chained up outside all day, why bother to have a dog? I don't get it. Sounds like a form of torture to me.
If you want to have the responsibility of a dog, then you should build a fence, get it proper training, and make sure you have the time and intelligence to take proper care of it, and your children.

EDIT: and where were the children's parents and the dog owners when this mauling was going on?

[ernstbass]

2. It's a shame there's not a total ban on tethering

[IndyOp]

3. Why just during the day?

The ban on chaining dogs outside sounds positive to me. Why not ban chaining dogs outside 24/7 in urban and suburban areas? I would guess that most people who are chaining their dogs outside are keeping them as guard dogs or - in too many cases - for dogfights. If you wanted to keep a dog outside as a pet for your kids you would fence in the yard and get the dog a doghouse. A chained dog has a very, very small area to explore and their energy (and resentment) seem to just build and build and build. I don't blame the animal who attacks - I blame the people who don't provide appropriate socialization and stimulation. If people want a dog, but can't provide adequate care then they should not have the dog - especially large breeds that can hurt people.