TETHERING LAWS
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Fails to properly protect a female dog during its estrous period from unintentional breeding; or
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Deprives the dog of adequate food, shade, shelter, potable water or proper exercise; or
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Causes the tether to become entangled with other objects resulting in overturned food or water bowls; or
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Unduly restricts the dog's movement; or
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Results in the dog being confined in its own waste; or
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Exposes the dog to extreme temperatures for such duration as to cause injury or death.
(e) Subsection 6-6(d) shall become effective twenty-four (24) months after the adoption of this amendment. Any person who violates subsection 6-6(d) after its adoption date, but prior to the twenty-four (24) months, period following the date of Ordinance No. 3-2011 shall be issued a written warning giving the violator notice of the provisions of Ordinance No. 3-2011. Any person who violates this amendment after the expiration of the 24-month period following the adoption date of Ordinance No. 3-2011 shall be subject to the penalties established in section 6-55, violations and penalties of the Forsyth County Code.
Sec. 6-7. - Cruelty to animals.
(a)Unlawful conduct. It shall be unlawful for any person to abuse, molest, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, cruelly beat, mutilate or kill, wound, injure, poison, abandon or subject to conditions which cause physical pain, suffering, disability or death to any animal, or to cause or procure such action. The words "torture" and "torment" shall be held to include every act, omission or neglect whereby unjustifiable physical pain, suffering or death is caused or permitted; but such terms shall not be construed to prohibit the lawful shooting of birds, deer and other game for human food; nor to prohibit the animal control department or its agents or veterinarians from destroying dangerous, unwanted or injured animals in a humane manner.
(b) Surgery. It shall be unlawful for any person other than a duly licensed veterinarian to perform invasive surgery upon a domestic animal.
(c) Rescue. Any animal control officer or law enforcement officer shall have the authority to rescue any animal that appears to be suffering from a serious medical emergency. The rescued animal shall be provided with immediate veterinary care if the officer deems such care to be necessary to prevent physical pain, suffering, disability or death to the animal. The animal's owner shall be responsible for all expenses incurred for the rescue and subsequent treatment of the animal.
To read the Forsyth County ordinances in their entirety, click HERE. See chapter 6 for the laws that relate to animals.
Sec. 6-6. - General duties of keepers of animals.
(a) Unlawful conduct. It shall be unlawful for any person to abuse an animal as "abuse" is defined in this chapter.
(b) Abandonment. It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of an animal to leave that animal on a street, road, highway, public place, animal shelter or private property without having made adequate provision for the animal's care.
(c) Breeding and reproduction of diseased animals prohibited. A person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of an animal shall not breed, sell, give away, or allow to reproduce any animal with a disease contagious to other animals or human beings.
(d) Restraint and confinement to property. It shall be unlawful for any person to utilize chaining, fastening, leashing, or otherwise tethering to confine dogs in a manner which:
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Constitutes abuse, abandonment, or cruelty as defined in chapter 6 of the Forsyth County Code; or
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Subjects the dog to injury by choking or strangling; or
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Causes neurotic or aggressive behavior; or
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Subjects the dog to harassment or insect bites so as to cause injury or death, or subjects the dog to attacks by people or other animals, or theft; or
